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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



1,000+ words match “FORMER”

PEROXIDE n.
An oxide containing more oxygen than some other oxide of the same element. Formerly peroxides were regarded as the highest oxides. Cf. Per-, 2.
PERRIER n.
A short mortar used formerly for throwing stone shot. Hakluyt.
PERSALT n.
A term formerly given to the salts supposed to be formed respectively by neutralizing acids with certain peroxides. [Obsoles.]
PERSIAN n. 5 definitions
A thin silk fabric, used formerly for linings. Beck.
PERSULPHIDE n.
phur than some other compound of the same elements; as, iron pyrites is a persulphide; -- formerly called persulphuret.
PERSULPHOCYANOGEN n.
and sulphocyanate of potassium; -- called also pseudosulphocyanogen, perthiocyanogen, and formerly sulphocyanogen.
PESTILENCE n. 2 definitions
. Pestilence weed (Bot.), the butterbur coltsfoot (Petasites vulgaris), so called because formerly considered a remedy for the plague. Dr. Prior.
PETER n. 2 definitions
ock auction. [Cant, U.S.] -- Peter pence, or Peter's pence. (a) An annual tax or tribute, formerly paid by the English people to the pope, being a penny for every house, payable on Lammas or St.Peter's day; -- called also Rome scot, and hearth money. (b) In modern times, a voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics…
PETIT a.
ually some implement of war, as a bow, an arrow, a sword, a flag, etc. -- Petit treason, formerly, in England, the crime of killing a person to whom the offender owed duty or subjection, as one's husband, master, mistress, etc. The crime is now not distinguished from murder.
PEW n. 3 definitions
Any structure shaped like a church pew, as a stall, formerly used by money lenders, etc.; a box in theater; a pen; a sheepfold. [Obs.] Pepys. Milton. Pew opener, an usher in a church. [Eng.] Dickens.
PHILOSOPHER n. 3 definitions
n alchemist. [Obs.] Chaucer. Philosopher's stone, an imaginary stone which the alchemists formerly sought as instrument of converting the baser metals into gold.
PHLORETIN n.
A bitter white crystalline substance obtained by the decomposition of phlorizin, and formerly used to some extent as a substitute for quinine.
PHLORIZIN n.
rystalline glucoside extracted from the root bark of the apple, pear, cherry, plum, etc. [Formerly also written phloridzin.]
PHOSGENE a.
Producing, or produced by, the action of light; -- formerly used specifically to designate a gas now called carbonyl chloride. See Carbonyl.
PHOSPHINE n.
having a disagreeable odor resembling that of garlic. Called also hydrogen phosphide, and formerly, phosphureted hydrogen.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS n.
ir in the chlorophyll-containing tissues of plants exposed to the action of light. It was formerly called assimilation, but this is now commonly used as in animal physiology. The details of the process are not yet clearly known. Baeyer's theory is that the carbon dioxide is reduced to carbon monoxide, which, uniting wi…
PHTHISIS n.
A wasting or consumption of the tissues. The term was formerly applied to many wasting diseases, but is now usually restricted to pulmonary phthisis, or consumption. See Consumption. Fibroid phthisis. See under Fibroid.
PHYSOSTIGMINE n.
venenosum), and extracted as a white, tasteless, substance, amorphous or crystalline; -- formerly called eserine, with which it was regarded as identical.
PICKET n. 11 definitions
A military punishment, formerly resorted to, in which the offender was forced to stand with one foot on a pointed stake.
PICNIC n. 2 definitions
Formerly, an entertainment at which each person contributed some dish to a common table; now, an excursion or pleasure party in which the members partake of a collation or repast (usually in the open air, and from food carried by themselves).
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