‖n. [ F. ] A thin stuff made of the finest wool or silk, or of wool and silk. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ n. [ F. ] 1. A warehouse; a magazine for depositing goods, stores, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a port where merchandise can be imported and re-exported with paying import duties; a mart or place where merchandise is deposited; as, an entrepôt for shipping goods in transit.
Syn. -- transshipment center. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. (military) The relative capacity for delivering weapons fire on a target; as, the battleship has more firepower than a cruiser. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. [ figurative ] A measure of the resources available to a group which allows them to achieve their objectives; capacity for action. [ PJC ]

a. (Mining) One of the thick laths or poles driven horizontally ahead on top of a set of the main timbering in advancing a level in loose ground.
Syn. -- spile{ 4 }; spill{ 2d }. [ RDH ]

a. 1. Holding or held formerly in possession. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Preoccupied; prepossessed; preëngaged. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Not extremely forepossessed with prejudice. Bp. Sanderson. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Madrepore. ] (Zool.) A genus of reef corals abundant in tropical seas. It includes than one hundred and fifty species, most of which are elegantly branched. -- Mad`re*po"ral a. [1913 Webster]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Madrepore. ] (Zool.) An extensive division of Anthozoa, including most of the species that produce stony corals. See Illust. of Anthozoa. -- Mad`re*po*ra"ri*an a. & n. [1913 Webster]

n. [ F. madrepore, perh. fr. madré spotted, fr. OF. madre, mazre, a kind of knotty wood with brown spots, fr. OHG. masar a knot, grain, or vein in wood, a speck, G. maser + pore (see Pore); or perh. F. madrépore is rather from It. madrepora, and this perh. fr. It. madre mother (see Mother) + Gr. &unr_; a soft stone. ] (Zool.) Any coral of the genus Madrepora, a group of corals having calcareous skeletons aggregations of which form reefs and islands; formerly, often applied to any stony coral.
Syn. -- stony coral, madriporian coral. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. (Zool.) Resembling, or pertaining to, the genus Madrepora. [ 1913 Webster ]

Madreporic plate (Zool.), a perforated plate in echinoderms, through which water is admitted to the ambulacral tubes; -- called also madreporic tubercule. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Madrepore + -form. ] (Zool.) Resembling a madreporian coral in form or structure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. madréporite ] 1. (Paleon.) A fossil coral. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The madreporic plate of echinoderms. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. To report erroneously; to give an incorrect account of. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An erroneous report; a false or incorrect account given. Denham. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So named from its cry. ] (Zool.) The Australian crested goatsucker (Aegotheles Novae-Hollandiae). Also applied to other allied birds, as Podargus Cuveiri. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ L. praepollentia. ] The quality or state of being prepollent; superiority of power; predominance; prevalence. [ R. ] Coventry. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praepollens, p. p. of praepollere to surpass in power; prae before + pollere to be powerful. ] Having superior influence or power; prevailing; predominant. [ R. ] Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Prepollices [ NL. See Pre-, Pollex. ] (Anat.) An extra first digit, or rudiment of a digit, on the preaxial side of the pollex. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>v. t. To preponderate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Cf. F. prépondérance. ] 1. The quality or state of being preponderant; superiority or excess of weight, influence, or power, etc.; an outweighing. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mind should . . . reject or receive proportionably to the preponderancy of the greater grounds of probability. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

In a few weeks he had changed the relative position of all the states in Europe, and had restored the equilibrium which the preponderance of one power had destroyed. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gun.) The excess of weight of that part of a canon behind the trunnions over that in front of them. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praeponderans, -antis: cf. F. prépondérant. See Preponderate. ] Preponderating; outweighing; overbalancing; -- used literally and figuratively; as, a preponderant weight; of preponderant importance. -- Pre*pon"der*ant*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preponderated p. pr. & vb. n. Preponderating. ] [ L. praeponderatus, p. p. of praeponderare; prae before + ponderare to weigh, fr., pondus, ponderis, a weight. See Ponder. ] 1. To outweigh; to overpower by weight; to exceed in weight; to overbalance. [ 1913 Webster ]

An inconsiderable weight, by distance from the center of the balance, will preponderate greater magnitudes. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To overpower by stronger or moral power. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause to prefer; to incline; to decide. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The desire to spare Christian blood preponderates him for peace. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To exceed in weight; hence, to incline or descend, as the scale of a balance; figuratively, to exceed in influence, power, etc.; hence; to incline to one side; as, the affirmative side preponderated. [ 1913 Webster ]

That is no just balance in which the heaviest side will not preponderate. Bp. Wilkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a preponderating manner; preponderantly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praeponderatio. ] The act or state of preponderating; preponderance; as, a preponderation of reasons. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ F. préposer; pref. pré- (L. prae before) + poser. See Pose. ] To place or set before; to prefix. [ Obs. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praepositio, fr. praeponere to place before; prae before + ponere to put, place: cf. F. préposition. See Position, and cf. Provost. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Gram.) A word employed to connect a noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word; a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word; -- so called because usually placed before the word with which it is phrased; as, a bridge of iron; he comes from town; it is good for food; he escaped by running. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A proposition; an exposition; a discourse. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He made a long preposition and oration. Fabyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. prépositionnel. ] Of or pertaining to a preposition; of the nature of a preposition. Early. -- Prep`o*si"tion*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. [ L. praepositivus: cf. F. prépositif. ] (Gram.) Put before; prefixed; as, a prepositive particle. -- n. A prepositive word. Tooke. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. ] A scholar appointed to inspect other scholars; a monitor. Todd. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praepositura. See Preposition, and cf. Provost. ] The office or dignity of a provost; a provostship. Lowth. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prepossessed p. pr. & vb. n. Prepossessing. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To preoccupy, as ground or land; to take previous possession of. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To preoccupy, as the mind or heart, so as to preclude other things; hence, to bias or prejudice; to give a previous inclination to, for or against anything; esp., to induce a favorable opinion beforehand, or at the outset. [ 1913 Webster ]

It created him enemies, and prepossessed the lord general. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to invite favor; attracting confidence, favor, esteem, or love; attractive; as, a prepossessing manner. -- Pre`pos*sess"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Preoccupation; prior possession. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Preoccupation of the mind by an opinion, or impression, already formed; preconceived opinion; previous impression; bias; -- generally, but not always, used in a favorable sense; as, the prepossessions of childhood. “The prejudices and prepossessions of the country.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Bent; bias; inclination; preoccupancy; prejudgment. See Bent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who possesses, or occupies, previously. R. Brady. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praeposterus; prae before + posterus coming after, latter. See Posterior. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Having that first which ought to be last; inverted in order. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The method I take may be censured as preposterous, because I thus treat last of the antediluvian earth, which was first in the order of nature. Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Contrary to nature or reason; not adapted to the end; utterly and glaringly foolish; unreasonably absurd; perverted. “Most preposterous conclusions.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Preposterous ass, that never read so far! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Absurd; perverted; wrong; irrational; foolish; monstrous. See Absurd. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Pre*pos"ter*ous*ly, adv. -Pre*pos"ter*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Prepositor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praepotentia: cf. F. prépotence. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality or condition of being prepotent; predominance. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) The capacity, on the part of one of the parents, as compared with the other, to transmit more than his or her own share of characteristics to their offspring. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praepotens. See Pre-, and Potent. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Very powerful; superior in force, influence, or authority; predominant. Plaifere. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) Characterized by prepotency. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To polish again. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. reponere; pref. re- re- + ponere to place. ] To replace. R. Baillie. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of repeopling; act of furnishing with a population anew. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Reported; p. pr. & vb. n. Reporting. ] [ F. reporter to carry back, carry (cf. rapporter; see Rapport), L. reportare to bear or bring back; pref. re- re- + portare to bear or bring. See Port bearing, demeanor. ] 1. To refer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Baldwin, his son, . . . succeeded his father; so like unto him that we report the reader to the character of King Almeric, and will spare the repeating his description. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bring back, as an answer; to announce in return; to relate, as what has been discovered by a person sent to examine, explore, or investigate; as, a messenger reports to his employer what he has seen or ascertained; the committee reported progress. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no man that may reporten all. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To give an account of; to relate; to tell; to circulate publicly, as a story; as, in the common phrase, it is reported. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel. Neh. vi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To give an official account or statement of; as, a treasurer reports the receipts and expenditures. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To return or repeat, as sound; to echo. [ Obs. or R. ] “A church with windows only from above, that reporteth the voice thirteen times.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Parliamentary Practice) To return or present as the result of an examination or consideration of any matter officially referred; as, the committee reported the bill witth amendments, or reported a new bill, or reported the results of an inquiry. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To make minutes of, as a speech, or the doings of a public body; to write down from the lips of a speaker. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To write an account of for publication, as in a newspaper; as, to report a public celebration or a horse race. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. To make a statement of the conduct of, especially in an unfavorable sense; as, to report a servant to his employer. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be reported, or
To be reported of, to be spoken of; to be mentioned, whether favorably or unfavorably. Acts xvi. 2. --
To report one's self, to betake one's self, as to a superior or one to whom service is due, and be in readiness to receive orders or do service. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To relate; narrate; tell; recite; describe. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To make a report, or response, in respect of a matter inquired of, a duty enjoined, or information expected; as, the committee will report at twelve o'clock. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To furnish in writing an account of a speech, the proceedings at a meeting, the particulars of an occurrence, etc., for publication. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To present one's self, as to a superior officer, or to one to whom service is due, and to be in readiness for orders or to do service; also, to give information, as of one's address, condition, etc.; as, the officer reported to the general for duty; to report weekly by letter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. rapport. See Report.v. t. ] 1. That which is reported. Specifically: (a) An account or statement of the results of examination or inquiry made by request or direction; relation. “From Thetis sent as spies to make report.” Waller. (b) A story or statement circulating by common talk; a rumor; hence, fame; repute; reputation. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. 1 Kings x. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and . . . of good report among all the nation of the Jews. Acts x. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) Sound; noise; as, the report of a pistol or cannon. (d) An official statement of facts, verbal or written; especially, a statement in writing of proceedings and facts exhibited by an officer to his superiors; as, the reports of the heads af departments to Congress, of a master in chancery to the court, of committees to a legislative body, and the like. (e) An account or statement of a judicial opinion or decision, or of case argued and determined in a court of law, chancery, etc.; also, in the plural, the volumes containing such reports; as, Coke's Reports. (f) A sketch, or a fully written account, of a speech, debate, or the proceedings of a public meeting, legislative body, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Rapport; relation; connection; reference. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The corridors worse, having no report to the wings they join to. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Account; relation; narration; detail; description; recital; narrative; story; rumor; hearsay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable or admitting of being reported. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. SAme as Report. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who reports. Specifically: (a) An officer or person who makes authorized statements of law proceedings and decisions, or of legislative debates. (b) One who reports speeches, the proceedings of public meetings, news, etc., for the newspapers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of our tales judge and reportour. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By report or common fame. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to a reporter or reporters; as, the reportorial staff of a newspaper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Repose. ] 1. The act or state of reposing; as, the reposal of a trust. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That on which one reposes. [ Obs. ] Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]