The Illustrated London Reading Book

PO'ETRY, s. sublime thought expressed in sublime language

POI'GNANCY, s. power of irritation; sharpness

POI'SON, s. that which taken into the body destroys or injures life; anything infectious or malignant

POLI'TE, a. glossy; smooth; elegant of manners

POLITICAL, a. that which relates to politics; that which relates to public affairs; also cunning, skilful

PO'PULAR, a. vulgar; familiar; well known

POPULARITY, a. state of being favoured by the people; representation suited to vulgar conception

POPULA'TION, s. the state of a country with respect to numbers of people

PO'RTABLE, a. manageable by the hand; supportable

PO'RTION, s. a part; an allotment

PORTMA'NTEAU, s. a chest, or bag, in which clothes are carried

POSI'TION, s. state of being placed; situation

PO'SITIVE, o. absolute; particular; real; certain

POSSE'SS, v.a. have as an owner; be master of; seize; obtain

POSSESSION, s. property; the thing possessed

POSSIBLE, a. having the power to be or to be done; not contrary to the nature of things

POSTE'RITY, s. succeeding generations

PO'TENTATE, s. monarch; prince; sovereign

PO'WER, s. command; authority; ability; strength; faculty of the mind

PRACTICABLE, a. capable of being practised

PRA'CTICAL, o. relating to action; not merely speculative.

PRAE'TOR, s. a functionary among the ancient Romans

PRAI'RIE, s. a meadow

PRECAUTION, s. preservative caution; preventive measures

PRECE'PTOR, s. a teacher; an Instructor

PRE'CINCT, s. outward limit; boundary

PRECI'PITOUS, a. headlong; steep

PREDECE'SSOR, s. one who was in any state or place before another; ancestor

PREDOMINANCE, s. prevalence; ascendancy

PREDOMINANT, a. prevalent; ascendant; supreme influence

PREDOMINATE, v.n. prevail; be supreme in influence

PREFI'X, v.a. appoint beforehand; settle; establish; put before another thing

PRELI'MINARY, a. previous; introductory

PREJUDICE, s. prepossession; judgment formed beforehand; mischief; injury

PREPARATION, s. anything made by process of operation; previous measures

PREROGATIVE, s. an exclusive or peculiar privilege

PRE'SCIENT, a. foreknowing; prophetic

PRESENT, a. not past; not future; ready at hand; not absent; being face to face; being now in view

PRESE'NT, v.a. offer; exhibit

PRESE'RVE, v.a. save; keep; defend from destruction or any evil

PRESU'MPTION, s. arrogance; blind confidence

PREVE'NT, v.a. hinder; obviate; obstruct

PRINCIPAL, a. chief; capital; essential; important; considerable

PRINCIPLE, s. constituent part; original cause

PRO'BABLE, a. likely

PRO'BABLY, a. very likely

PROBA'TION, s. proof; trial; noviciate

PROCEE'D, v.n. pass from one thing or place to another; go forward; issue; arise; carry on; act; transact

PRO'CESS, s. course of law; course

PROCE'SSION, s. a train marching in ceremonious solemnity

PRODI'GIOUS, a. enormous; amazing; monstrous

PRO'DUCE, s. amount; profit; that which anything yields or brings

PRODU'CE, v.a. offer to the view or notice; bear; cause; effect

PRODU'CTION, s. the act of producing; fruit; product; composition

PROFESSION, s. vocation; known employment

PROFU'SE, a. lavish; too liberal

PROFUSION, s. extravagance; abundance

PRO'GRESS, s. course; advancement; motion forward

PROHI'BIT, v.a. forbid; debar; hinder

PROJE'CT, v.a. throw out; scheme; contrive; form in the mind

PRO'PAGATE, v.a. extend; widen; promote

PRO'PER, a. fit; exact; peculiar

PRO'PHECY, s. a declaration of something to come

PROPHE'TIC, a. foreseeing or foretelling future events

PROPORTION, s. symmetry; form; size; ratio

PROPOSITION, s. one of the three parts of a regular argument, in which anything is affirmed or denied; proposal

PROPRIETOR, s. possessor in his own right

PROPRI'ETY, s. accuracy; justness

PROSA'IC, a. belonging to or resembling prose

PROTE'CTOR, s. defender; supporter; guardian

PROTRU'DE, v.a. thrust forward

PROVI'DE, v.a. procure; furnish; supply; stipulate

PROVIDE'NTIAL, a. effected by Providence; referrible to Providence

PRO'VINCE, s. a conquered country; a region

PROVINCIAL, a. that which relates to provinces

PROVISION, s. the act of providing beforehand; measures taken beforehand; stock collected; victuals

PROVOCATION, s. an act or cause by which anger is raised; an appeal to a judge

PROXI'MITY, s. nearness

PTA'RMIGAN, s. (pronounced tár-mi-gan) a bird of the grouse species

PU'BLIC, s. the people; general view; open view

PU'LLEY, s. a small wheel turning on a pivot, with a furrow on its outside, in which a rope runs

PU'NISH, v.a. to chastise; to afflict with penalties or death for some crime

PU'NISHED, adj chastised

PU'PIL, s. a scholar; one under the care of a tutor

PU'RCHASE, v.a. acquire; buy for a price

PU'RITY, s. clearness; freedom from foulness or dirt; freedom from guilt; innocence

PU'RPOSE, v.t. intention; design; instance

PU'TRIFY, v.i. to rot

PU'ZZLE, v.a. perplex; confound; tease; entangle

PY'RAMID, s. a solid figure, whose base is a polygon and whose sides are plain triangles, their several points meeting in one

PYTHA'GORAS, s. the originator of the present system universe

PYTHAGORE'ANS, s. followers of Pythagoras

QUALIFICATION, s. accomplishment; that which makes any person or thing fit for anything

QUA'NTITY, s. any indeterminate weight or measure; bulk or weight; a portion; a part

QUA'RRY, s. game flown at by a hawk; a stone mine

RA'DIANT, a. shining; emitting rays

RAMIFICA'TION, s. division or separation into branches; small branches; branching out

RA'NCID, a. strong scented

RAPA'CIOUS, a. given to plunder; seizing by violence

RAPI'DITY, s. celerity; velocity; swiftness

RA'PTURE, s. transport; haste

RA'TTLE, s. a quick noise nimbly repeated; empty and loud talk; a plant

RA'TTLESNAKE, s. a kind of serpent, which has a rattle at the end of its tail

REA'CTION, s. the reciprocation of any impulse or force impressed, made by the body on which such an impression is made

RE'ALISE, v.a. bring into being or act; convert money into land.

REA'SON, s. the power by which man deduces one proposition from another; cause; ground or principle; motive; moderation

REASONABLENESS, s. the faculty of reason

REASONING, s. an argument

REBE'LLION, s. insurrection against lawful authority

RECE'DE, v.n. fall back; retreat; desist

RECEI'VE, v.a. obtain; admit; entertain as a guest

RE'CENT, a. new; late; fresh

RECE'PTACLE, s. a vessel or place into which anything is received

RECOGNITION, s. review; renovation of knowledge; acknowledgment; memorial

RECOLLE'CTION, s. recovery of notion; revival in the memory

RECOMME'ND, v.a. make acceptable; praise another; commit with prayers

RECOMMENDA'TION, s. the act of recommending; that which secures to one a kind reception from another

RE'COMPENSE, s. reward; compensation

RECOMPENSE, v.a. repay; reward; redeem

RE'CORD, s. register; authentic memorial

RECREA'TION, s. relief after toil or pain; amusement; diversion

RE'CTIFY, v.a. to make right

RE'CTITUDE, s. straightness;rightness; uprightness

REDE'MPTION, s. ransom; relief; purchase of God's favour by the death of Christ

REDU'CE, v.a. bring back; subdue; degrade

REFLECTION, s. that which is reflected; thought thrown back upon the past; attentive consideration

REFLE'CTOR, s. considerer

REFRA'CT, v.n. break the natural course of rays

REFU'LGENT, a. bright; splendid

REGA'LIA, s. ensigns of Royalty

REGA'RD, v.a. observe; remark; pay attention to

RE'GIMENT, s. a body of soldiers under one colonel

RE'GION, s. tract of land; country

RE'GULAR, a. methodical; orderly

REINFO'RCE, v.a. strengthen again

REJE'CT, v.a. cast off; refuse; throw aside

RE'LATIVE, s. a near friend; a relation; a kinsman

RE'LATIVE, a. having relation

RELAXATION, s. the act of loosening

RELA'XED, a. slackened; loosened; let loose; diverted; eased; refreshed

RELEA'SE, v.a. quit; let go; slacken; free from

RELE'NT, v.n. slacken; remit; soften; melt

RE'LIC, s. that which remains

RELIE'VE, v.a. ease pain or sorrow; succour by assistance; support; assist

RELI'GION, s. a system of divine faith and worship

RELU'CTANT, a. unwilling; acting with repugnance

REMAI'N, v.n. continue; endure; be left

REMAINDER, s. the part left

REMA'RKABLE, a. observable; worthy of note

RE'MEDY, s. a medicine by which any illness is cured; that which counteracts any evil; reparation

REME'MBER, v.a. bear in mind; not to

REMO'NSTRANCE, s. strong representation

REMO'RSELESS, a. without remorse

RE'NDER, v.a. restore; give back; represent; exhibit; give

REPEA'T, v.a. use again; do again; speak again

REPO'RT, s. rumour; popular fame; sound; loud noise

RE'PRESENT, v.a. exhibit; describe; personate; exhibit to show

REPRESENTA'TION, s. image; likeness; public exhibition

REPRIE'VE, s. respite after sentence of death

REPRI'SAL, s. something seized by way of retaliation for robbery or injury

RE'PTILE, s. an animal that creeps on many feet

REPU'BLIC, s. commonwealth; a government without a King or other hereditary head

REPU'GNANT, a. disobedient; contrary; opposite

REPU'LSE, v.a. beat back; drive off

REPUTA'TION, s. character of good or bad; credit

REPU'TE, s. character; reputation

REQUE'ST, s. petition; entreaty; demand

RE'QUIEM, s. a hymn, in which they ask for the dead, requiem or rest

REQUISITE, a. necessary

RE'SCUE, v.a. set free from any violence, confinement, or danger

RESE'MBLE, v. a to be like; to compare; to represent as like something else

RESE'NTMENT, s. anger; deep sense of injury

RE'SERVOIR, s. a receiver; a large basin which receives water

RESIDENCE, s. dwelling; place of abode

RESOU'RCE, s. resort; expedient

RESPECTIVE, a. particular; relating to particular persons or things

RESPIRA'TION, s. the act of breathing; relief from toil

RESPLENDENT, a. bright; shining; having a beautiful lustre

RESPONSIBLE, a. answerable; accountable

RESTRAINT, s. abridgment of liberty; prohibition; restriction

RETALIATION, s. requital; return of like for like

RETA'RD, v.a. hinder; delay

RE'TINUE, s. a number attending upon a principal person; train

RETROSPECTION, s. act or faculty of looking backward

RETU'RN, s. the act cf coming back to the same place; act of restoring or giving back

REVELA'TION, s. discovery; communication; apocalypse; the prophecy of St. John, revealing future things

REVE'NUE, s. income; annual profits received from lands or other funds

RE'VERENCE, s. veneration; respect; title of the clergy

REVE'RSE, v.a. turn upside down; overturn

RHINO'CERUS, s. a large animal with a horn on its nose

RHODODE'NDRON, s. the rose-bay

RI'BALDRY, s. mean, lewd, brutal language

RI'DICULE, s. contemptive mockery

RI'VET, v.a. fasten strongly

RI'VULET, s a small river; streamlet; brook

ROMA'NTIC, a. wild; fanciful

ROO'KERY, s. a nursery of rooks

ROYA'LIST, s. adherent to a King

RU'BY, s. a precious stone of a red colour

RU'DIMEMT, s. the first principle

RU'GGED, a. rough; uneven; rude

RU'STIC, a. rough; rude; pertaining to the country

RUSTI'CITY, g rural appearance; simplicity

SA'CRAMENT, s. an oath; an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace

SA'CRED, a. immediately relating to God; holy

SA'CRIFICE, v.a. offer to heaven; destroy or give up for the sake of something else; destroy; kill

SAGA'CITY, a. quickness of scent; acuteness of discovery

SA'LINE, a. consisting of salt; constituting bait

SA'NCTITY, s. holiness; goodness; purity

SA'NGUINARY, a. cruel; bloody; murderous

SA'PPHIRE, s. a precious stone, of a blue colour

SAU'RIAN, s. a reptile belonging to the order of Sauris or lizards

SAVA'NNAH, s. an open meadow without wood

SCABBARD, s. the sheath of a sword or dagger

SCE'NERY, s. the appearances of places or things; the background of the scenes of a play

SCE'PTRE, s. the ensign of royalty borne in the hand

SCI'ENCE, s. knowledge; certainty grounded, on demonstration

SCIENTIFIC, a. producing demonstrative knowledge

SCREECH, s. cry of horror and anguish; harsh cry

SCRI'PTURE, s. sacred writing; the Bible

SCU'RRY, a. mean; vile; dirty; worthless

SCU'LPTURE, s. carved work

SE'AMAN, s. a sailor

SE'ASON, s. one of the four parts of the year; a fit time

SE'CRET, s. something studiously hidden; privacy; solitude; a thing unknown

SECRE'TE, v.a. put aside; hide

SECU'RITY, s. protection; safety; certainty

SEE'MING, s. appearance; show; opinion

SELE'CT, v.a. choose in preference to others rejected

SELE'CTION, s. the act of choosing; choice

SE'MI-GLO'BULAR, a. half circular

SE'MINARY, s. place of education

SE'NATOR, s. a public counsellor

SENSA'TION, s. perception by means of the senses

SENSIBI'LITY, s. quickness of sensation; delicacy

SENSORIO'LA, s. plur. little sensoriums

SENSO'RIUM, s. the seat of sense; organ of sensation

SE'NTINEL, s. one who watches or keeps guard, to prevent surprise

SEPARATION, s. the act of separating; disunion

SE'QUEL, s. conclusion; consequence; event

SEQUE'STER, v.a. separate from others for the sake of privacy; remove; withdraw

SERE'NITY, s. calmness; mild temperature; peace; coolness of mind

SE'RIES, s. sequence; order; succession; course

SERRA'TED, a. formed with jags or indentures, like the edge of a saw

SE'RVANT, s. one who attends another, and acts at his command

SERVICEABLE, a. active; diligent; officious; useful; beneficial

SE'VERAL, a. different; divers; many

SHA'NTY, s. a temporary wooden building

SHE'LTER, s. cover; protection

SI'GNAL, s. a notice given by a sign; a sign that gives notice

SI'GNIFY, v.a. to declare; to make known; to declare by some token or sign; to express; to mean

SILT, s. mud; slime; consisting of mud

SI'MILAR, a. like; having resemblance

SIMPLICITY, s. plainness; not cunning; silliness

SIMULTANEOUS, a. acting together; existing at the same time

SINCE'RITY, s. honesty of intention

SI'NGER, s. one that tings; one whose profession or business is to sing

SI'NGULAR, a. single; particular

SI'TUATE, part. a. placed with respect to anything else; consisting

SKE'LETON, a. the bones of the body preserved together, as much as can be, in their natural situation

SKI'RMISH, s. slight fight; contest

SLA'TY, a. having the nature of slate

SLEIGHT, s. artful trick; dexterous practice

SLU'GGISH, a. slow; slothful; lazy, inactive

SOBRI'ETY, s. soberness; calmness; gravity

SOCI'ETY, s. company; community

SO'CKET, s. a hollow pipe; the receptacle of the eye

SO'LDIER, s. a fighting man; a warrior

SO'LEMN, a. religiously grave; awful; grave

SOLE'MNITY, s. gravity; religious ceremony

SOLI'CITOUS, a. anxious; careful; concerned

SOLI'CITUDE, s. anxiety; carefulness

SO'LID, a. not liquid; not fluid; not hollow; compact; strong; firm; sound; true; profound; grave

SOLI'LOQUY, s. a discourse made by one in solitude to himself

SO'LITARY, a. living alone; not having company

SO'LITUDE, s. loneliness; a lonely place

SO'RROW, s. grief; pain for something past; sadness

SOU'THERN, a. belonging to the south

SO'VEREIGN, s. supreme lord.

SPA'NGLE, s. any little thing sparkling and shining

SPA'NIEL, s. a dog used for sport in the field, remarkable for tenacity and obedience

SPEA'KER, s. one that speaks; the prolocutor of the Commons

SPE'CIES, s. a sort; class of nature; show

SPECIMEN, s. sample; a part of any thing exhibited, that the rest may be known

SPE'CTACLE, s. a show; sight

SPECTA'TOR, s. a looker-on; a beholder

SPECULA'TION, s. examination by the eye; view; spy

SPHE'RICAL, a. round; globular

SPI'CULA, s. plur. little spikes

SPI'CY, a. producing spice; aromatic

SPI'DER, s. the animal that spins a web for flies

SPI'RAL, a. curved; winding; circularly involved

SPI'RIT, s. breath; soul of man; apparition; temper

SPI'RITUAL, a. that which regards divinity; that which regards the soul; not temporal

SPLE'NDID, a. showy; magnificent; pompous

STABI'LITY, s. steadiness; strength to stand

STA'GNANT, a. motionless; still

STA'GNATE, v.a. lie motionless; have no stream

STA'NDARD, s. an ensign in war; a settled rate

STA'RLING, s. a bird that may be taught to whistle, and articulate words

STA'TESMAN, s. a politician; one employed in public affairs

STA'TION, v.a. place in a certain post or place

STA'TUE, s. an image; solid representation of any living being

STA'TURE, s. the height of any animal

STE'RIL, a. barren; unfruitful

STO'IC, s. an ancient philosopher of a particular sect, that met under the Stoa or portico of the temple

STO'ICAL, a. pertaining to the Stoics

STRA'TAGEM, s. an artifice in war; a trick by which some advantage is gained

STRU'CTURE, s. building; form

STRU'GGLE, v.n. labour; strive; contend

STU'DENT, s. a bookish man; a scholar

STUPE'NDOUS, a. wonderful; amazing; astonishing

STU'PIFY, v.a. make stupid; deprive of sensibility

SUB-DIVI'DE, v.a. to divide a part into more parts

SUBDIVI'SION, s. the act of subdividing; the parts distinguished by a second division

SUBDU'E, v.a. crush; oppress; conquer; tame

SUB'JECT, s. one who lives under the dominion of another; that on which any operation is performed

SUBME'RGE, v.a. to put under water; to drown

SUBMI'SSIVE, a. humble

SU'BSEQUENT, a. following in train

SUBSI'STENCE, s. competence; means of supporting life; inherence in something else

SU'BSTANCE, s. something real, not imaginary; wealth; means of life

S'UBSTITUTE, s. one placed by another to act with delegated power

SUBTERRA'NEOUS, a. living under the earth

SUBVE'RSION, s. overthrow; ruin

SU'CCEED, v.a. follow; prosper

SUCCE'SSFUL, a. prosperous; happy; fortunate

SUCCE'SSION, s. a series of persons or things following one another; a lineage

SU'CCOUR, s. aid; assistance; help in distress

SU'CCULENT, a. juicy; moist

SU'DDEN, a. coming unexpectedly; hasty; violent

SU'FFER, v.a. bear; undergo; endure; permit

SUFFI'CE, v.n. be enough; be sufficient; be equal to the end, or purpose

SUFFI'CE, v.a. afford; supply; satisfy

SUFFI'CIENT, a. equal to any end or purpose

SU'LLY, v.a. spoil; tarnish; dirty; spot

SU'LTRY, a. hot and close

SU'MMON, v.a. call up; raise; admonish to appear

SU'MPTUOUS, a. costly; expensive; splendid

SUPE'RB, a. grand; pompous; lofty; magnificent

SUPERINCU'MBENT, a. lying on the top of something else

SUPERINDU'CE, v.a. bring in as an addition to something else

SUPERINTE'NDENCE, s. superior care; the act of overseeing with authority

SUPERINTEN'DENT, s. one who overlooks others authoritatively

SUPE'RIOR, a. higher; greater in dignity or excellence; preferable; upper

SUPERIO'RITY, s. pre-eminence; the quality of being greater or higher than another

SUPERSE'DE, v.a. make void by superior power

SUPERSTI'TIOUS, a. full of idle fancies or scruples with regard to religion

SUPPLY', v.n. fill up a deficiency; yield; afford; accommodate; furnish

SUPPLY', s. relief of want; cure of deficiencies

SUPPO'RT, s. act or power of sustaining; prop

SUPPO'RT, v.a. sustain; prop; endure

SUPPO'SE, v.a. admit without proof; imagine

SU'RFACE, s. superficies; outside

S'URPLUS, s. overplus; what remains when use is satisfied

SURROU'ND, v.a. environ; encompass; enclose on all sides

SURVE'Y, v.a. view as examining; measure and estimate land; overlook

SUSCE'PTIBLE, a. capable of anything

SUSPI'CION, s. the act of suspecting; imagination of something ill without proof

SWA'LLOW, v.n. take down the throat; take in

SY'CAMORE, s. a tree

SY'COPHANT, s. tale-bearer

SY'MMETRY, s. adaptation of parts to each other; proportion; harmony

SY'MPHONY, s. harmony of mingled sounds

SY'NAGOGUE, s. a Jewish place of worship

SY'STEM, s. any combination of many things acting together

SYSTEMA'TIC, a. methodical; written or formed with regular subordination of one part to another

TA'BLET, s. a small level surface; a surface written on or painted

TA'BULAR, a. set in the form of tables or synopses

TA'CTICS, s. the art of ranging men on the field of battle

TA'FFETA, s. a thin silk