`
`monoucnu REVISED AND UPDATED
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`|,000 NEW wonns AND MEANINGS
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`oven 400 PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATION;
`EXPERT. GUIDANCE ON CORRECT USAGE
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`0
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`I" O U RT I--I
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`If L) 1'1" I U N
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`Based on the Best—sel1ing American Heritagég Dictionagr
`ofthe English Language, Fourth Edition
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`0001
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`Apple 1015
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`U.S. Pat. 8,995,433
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`Apple 1015
`U.S. Pat. 8,995,433
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`0001
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`
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`The
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`AMERICAN
`
`HERITAGE®
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`dic-rion-ar-y
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`FOURTH EDITION
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`aaaaaaaaaaaks
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`0002
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`A Delta Book
`
`Published by
`Dell Publishing
`a division of
`Random House, Inc.
`1540 Broadway
`New York, New York 10036
`
`Words included in this book that are known to have current trademark registra-
`tions are shown with an initial capital and are also identified as trademarks. No
`investigation has been made of common-law trademark rights in any word,
`because such investigation is impracticable. The inclusion of any word in this
`book is not, however, an expression of the Publisher’s opinion as to whether or
`not it is subject to proprietary rights. Indeed, no definition in this book is to be
`regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark.
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`American Heritage” and the eagle logo are registered trademarks of Forbes
`Inc. Their use is pursuant to a license agreement with Forbes Inc.
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`Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company
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`All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in
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`Delta” is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.
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`ISBN: 0-385—335’i'6—8
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`Reprinted by arrangement with Houghton Mifflin Company
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`Manufactured in the United States of America
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`Published simultaneously in Canada
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`July 2001
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`1098765
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`41
`apothegm _/ applicator
`
`1. A druggist; pharmacist. 2. See pharmacy
`'2. [< Gk. aporhélri, storehouse]
`ap-0-thegm (§p’o—them’)
`Iva. A proverb;
`maxim.
`[GIL apophthegma < apophrhenges-
`lltal, speak pla.i_n_Iy.] —ap'o-theg-mat’ic
`{-%g—mat’Il:) adf.
`ap-o-‘them (:'ip7:;—thém’) I-rz. The perpendicu-
`lar distance from the center of a regular poly-
`gon to any of its sides. [apo-, off + Gk. rhema,
`something set down.]
`a-poth-e-0-sis (9-pt‘3Lh’e-6'sis, §p"o-tine’:-sis)
`r n. . pl. -sea (-sez’) 1. Exaltation to divine rank
`or stature; deification. 2. An exalted or glori-
`fied example. [< Gk. apotheoun. deify.] -—a-
`pothhaooosize’ v.
`app (59) Hz. Informal A computer application.
`Ap-pa-la-chi-a (§p’a—1a'ehe-2, -cha, -l§ch’e—o,
`-lachla) A region of the E US including the Ap-
`palachian Mts.
`Ap-pa-la-chi-an Mountains (ap’9-l§’t:l1E-
`an.
`-Chan, —l§ch’e-an, -lachhn) A mountain
`system of E North America extending SW from
`E Canada to central AL.
`ap-pall (a—p6l’) I-vv. To fill with horror or dis-
`may. [< 0Fr. apalir, grow pallid, faint] —ap-
`palI’ing-Iy adv.
`ap-pa-loo-sa (t?1p’a—lo‘o’sa) I-:1. A horse hav-
`ing a spotted rump. [‘?]
`ap-pa-rat-us (§p’s-r5t’os. -1'a’tos)Ivn., pl. -us
`or -us- es 1a. The means by which a function
`or task is performed. b. A political organiza-
`tion or movement. 23. A machine or machin-
`ery. b. A group of materials or devices used for
`a particular purpose: dental apparatus. See
`Syns at equipment. 3. A system. [< Lat. ap-
`parare, prepare]
`ap-par-el (a—par’ai) in. Clothing, esp. outer
`garments. > v. -eled, -el-ing or -elled, -el-
`Iing. To clothe or dress. [< 0131'. apareillier,
`l31'el3a1’3-l
`ap-par-ent [9-paflont, -pfir’-) bad}. 1. Readily
`seen; visible. 2. Readily understood; obvious.
`3. Appearing as such but not necessarily so. {<
`Lat. apparére,
`appear.] —apopar’ent-iv
`adv.
`Syns: apparent. clear, clear-cm, distinct. ev-
`ident. mamfesr. obvious, patent, plain adj.
`apopaoriotion (5ip’a-ri5h’911)l>n. 1. A ghost. 2.
`. A sudden or unusual sight. [< Lat. apparére,
`appear.] —ap'pa-ri-"tionoal adj.
`apopeal (9-pel’) Iva. 1. An earnest request. 2.
`An application to a higher authority: on appeal
`to reason. 3. Law a. The lzansfer of a case from
`a lower to a higher court for a new hearing. b.
`A request for a new hearing. 4. The power of
`attracting interest: a city with appeal for roar-
`rlsrs. iv. 1. To make an earnest request, as for
`help. 2. To have recourse. 3. Low To make or
`apply for an appeal. 4. To be attractive. [< Lat.
`appellare,
`entreat.]
`--ap-peal'aobIe adj.
`—ap-peal'er n. —ap-peal'ling-ly adv.
`apopear (a—pir’) iv. 1. To become visible. 2.
`To come into existence. 3. To seem. See Syns
`at seem. 4. To seem likely. 5. To come before
`the public. 6. Low To present oneself before a
`court. [< Lat. appare're.I
`ap-pear-ance (9-pir’anS) in. 1. The act ofap-
`pearing. 2. Outward aspect: an antfafv appear-
`ance. 3. A pretense.
`ap-peasa (e—pEz’) r v. -peased, -peas-ing 1.
`To satisfy or relieve: appease one’s thirst. 2.
`To pacify (an enemy) by _sa*anti.n2 concession:
`
`ape.rier‘.] —ap-peas'a-ble adj".
`[< 0Fr.
`——ap-peas"ment rt. —ap-peas’er n.
`ap-pel-Kant (o—pEl’9nt) radj. Appellate. ha.
`One who appeals a court decision.
`ap-pel-late (a-pelfit) D-adj. Empowered to
`hear judicial appeals and review court deci-
`sions. [< Lat. appellare, entreat.]
`ap-pel-laotiorl (a“tp’a~l3’shon) Mr. A name or
`title. [31 Lat. appellare, entreat.]
`ap-pend (o—pénd’) iv. 1. To add as a supple-
`ment. 2. To attach. [lat appenclere, hang
`upon.]
`ap-pend-age (9-pEn'd1"j) ha. 1. Something at-
`tached to a larger entity. 2. Biol. A subordinate
`external body part or organ, as an arm or tail.
`ap-pen-doc-to-my (ap’an-d'e'k’to—Ine)
`I-71.,
`pl. -mies. Surgical removal of the verrniform
`appendix.
`ap-pen-di-ci-tie (9-p‘én’dT—sI’tis) rn. Inflam-
`mation of the vermiform appendix.
`ap-pen-dix (9-pE1:I’dIks) vn, pl. -dix-es or
`-di-ces (-d‘1’—sEz’) 1. Supplementary material at
`the end of a book. 2. Anal‘. The vermiform ap-
`pendix. {Lar. 4: appendere, hang upon.]
`ap-per-tain (ip’:;1'-tan’) Irv. To belong as a
`part. [< LL31. apperrinére, pertain]
`ap-pe-tite {5p"i—tTt’} Iva. ‘l. A desire for food
`or drink. 2. A strong wish or urge. [< Lat. ap-
`perere, strive af£er.] -—ap’pe~ti’tive adj.
`ap-‘pa-tiz-er (ap'i'-n'zar) rn. A food or drink
`served before a meal.
`ap-pe-tiz-ing (fip-‘”i—fl"ziZngj b-adj. Stimulating
`the appetite. —ap-Vpe-tiz'ing-ly adv.
`apoplaud (:1-plfid’) I-v. To express approval
`(of), esp. by clapping hands. —ap-p!aud'a-
`ble adj. —ap-plaud'er n.
`Syns: applaud, cheer, root‘ v.
`ap-plause (9-ploz’) Hz. Approval expressed
`esp. by the clapping of hands. [< Lat. applau-
`dere, applaals-, applaud]
`ap-pie {a'1p’ol) Int. 1. A deciduous tree having
`alternate white or pink flowers. 2. Its firm, edi-
`ble, usu. rounded fruit. —id:'om: apple of
`(one’s) eye One that is masm-ed: Her son is
`the apple ofker eye. [< OE teppel]
`ap-ple-jack (5p’ol-jak’) 52:. Brandy distilled
`from hard cider.
`1. Apples
`ap-ple-sauce (ip*'ol—s6s’) ha.
`stewed to a pulp. 2. Slang Nonsense.
`ap-plet [ap’lit) in. A computer application
`with limited features and memory require-
`ments. [A_PPL{ICA'1'ION) + —ET.]
`~
`ap-pli-ance (9-plfons) Inn. A device, esp. one
`operated by gas or electricity, designed for
`household use. [< A_PPLY.]
`ap-pli-ca-ble (5p’li—ka-bol, 9-plik’a—) D-adj.
`That can be applied; appropriate. ~—ap’pli-
`ca -billi-ty n. —ap’pIiocaobly adv.
`ap-pli-cant [§p’lE-kont) in. One who applies.
`ap-pli-ca-tion (ap’l.i-ka’shon) Int. 1. The act
`of applying. 2. Something applied. 3. The act
`of putting something to a special use. 4. The
`capacity of being usable; relevance. 5. Close
`attention; diligence: shows application to her
`work. 6a. Areqtzest, as for employment. 13. The
`form on which such a request is made. 7.
`Comp. Sci. A computer program with a user in-
`terface. Ivadf. also applications Comp. Sci.
`Of or being a progam designed for a specific
`task.
`rm. .......1..:.... -.._.—-=—=-
`ap-pli-ca-tor (ip’li'-kE"tQr) Iva. An instrument
`
`0004
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`
`pro-fan-i-ty (pro-fiin"‘i-IE, pr:;I—) n-n., pl. -ties
`1. The condition or quality of being profane. 2.
`Obscene or irreverent language.
`1. To affirm
`proofess (pro-fés’, pro-)
`Irv.
`openly; declare. 2. To make a pretense of. 3.
`To claim skill in or knowledge of. 4. To affirm
`belief in. [< Lat. profirerr] ——pro-fess’ed-ly
`adv.
`
`pro-fee-sion (pro-f‘ésh"an) wt. 1. An occupa-
`tion requiring training and specialized study. 2.
`The body of qualified persons in an occupation
`or field: the teaching profession. 3. An act of
`professing; declaration. 4. An avowal of faith
`or belief.
`
`proofes-sion-al (pro-fe‘sh’s-nol) body". 1. Of
`or engaged in a profession. 2. Engaging in a
`given activity as a source of livelihood. awn. A
`person following a profession. —pro-fest
`siort-aloly adv.
`pro-fee-sion-al-ism (prs—fesh’o—no-Ilz’om)
`Ivrt, Professional status. methods. character, or
`standards.
`
`671 productive I progress
`
`praoduc-tive (pro-dt‘tk’tIv, pro-J vaaj. 1. Pro-
`[-1 Lat. proflfgare.
`to ruin.] —prof’|i-ga-cy
`(—go—sé) :1.
`ducing or capable of producing. 2. Producing
`abundantly. See Syus at fertile- —proodm:'-
`pro fororna {pro f61"I}:l9) may‘. Done as a for-
`tive-ly adv. ——pro’duc-tivii-ty (pro'dfik-
`malitY;13€l'1°ll11ctory.
`[N'Lat. pa-oforma.]
`t't’v"i—te. prod'ok-J, pro-duc'tive-ness rt.
`pro-found [pra—found’, p1'6—) 1- adj. -er. ~est 1.
`pro-ern (p1‘CV§§1'_l") Ivn. An introduction; pref-
`Extending to or coming from a meat depth;
`ace. [< Gk. prooimion..]
`deep. 2. Coming as if from the depths of one’s
`pro-lane (pro-fan’, pro-) Podj. 1. Marked by
`being: profound contempt. 3. Thoroughgoing;
`contempt or irreverence for what is sacred. 2.
`far-reaching. 4, Penetrating beyond what is an-
`Nonreligious; secular. 3. Vulgar; coarse. Irv.
`perficial or obvious. 5. Unqualified: a pro-
`-faned, -fan-ing 1. To treat with irreverence.
`found silence,
`[< Lat. proftmdt.c.s.] —pro-
`2- To put to an improper, unworthy, or degrad-
`foundlly adv. —pro -fu n'di-ty (l'Tm’di-té) n.
`ing use; abuse.
`[-1 Lat. profi§rms.] —prof’a-
`pro-fuse (p1'a—fyt)—t)S", pro-) radj. 1. Plentiful;
`na’tion (prof’o-na’shon) n. —pro~fan’a-
`copious. 2. Giving or given freely and abun-
`to’ry (-fan’o—t6r’e. -tor'e) adj. —pro-faneh
`ness :1.
`dantly; extravagant. [< Lat. profizs-us, p.part. of
`profimdere. pour forth.] —-pro-fI.Ise’|y adv.
`—pro-fuselness fl. —proofu’sion (-{yo‘o’-
`zhan) rt.
`Syns: profuse. exuberant, lavish, lush, luxu-
`riant, prodigal, riotous Ant: spare adj‘.
`pro-‘gen-i-tor (prfi-jén-'i—t91‘) Ht. 1. A direct
`ancestor. See Syns at ancestor. 2. An origina-
`tor of a line of descent. 3. An originator;
`founder. [< Lat. prdgem't‘or.]
`prog-e-ny (profs-ne) in. Offspring or de-
`scendants. [< Lat. prJgem'§s.]
`pro-ges-ter-one (pro-jés’to-ron’) in. A ster-
`oid hormone secreted by the ovary before im-
`plantation of the fertilized ovum.
`[Pao—‘ +
`GE5[TAI'ION) + STER(OLJ + -one, suff.]
`prog-naothous
`(pr6g’no-thos,
`prog-nah)
`badj. Having jaws that project forward to a
`marked degree. [-1 9110-3 + Gk. gnothos, jaw.]
`—prog’na-thism :2.
`prog-no-sis (prog-notsis) an-n., pl. -ses (-sez).
`A prediction, esp. of the probable course and
`outcome of a disease. [< Gk.]
`prog-nos-tic (prog-nosttik) rad}. Of or useful
`in prognosis. in. 1. A forecast or prediction. 2.
`A portent;
`omen.
`[< Gk. prognosrikos,
`foreltnowing}
`prog-nos-ti-cate (prog-n6s’tI-lrat’) aw. -cat-I
`ed, -cat-ing. To predict according to present
`indications or signs; foretell. ——prog-rtos’ti-
`caltion rt. —prog-nos’ti-ca"tor n.
`pro-gram (pro’g1-at-n’, -gram) in. 1a. A listing
`of the order of events and other information for
`a public presentation. b. The presentation it-
`self. 2. A scheduled radio or television show.
`3. An ordered list of events or procedures to be
`followed; schedule. 4. Comp. Sci. A set of
`coded instructions that enables a machine, es-
`pecially a computer. to perform a desired se-
`quence
`of operations.
`bu.
`-grarnmed,
`-gram-ming or -grarned, -gram-ing 1. To
`include or schedule in a program. 2. To design
`a program for. 3. To provide (a computer) with
`a set of instructions. [< Gk. programma, public
`notice : 1230-3 + graphein, write.) —pro’-
`gran1’ma-ble
`stair‘. ——pro’gram-mat’ic
`[~g:"a-mét’fl<) adj.
`-gram)
`',
`pro-gramme (prEI’g
`Chiefly Brit. Var. of program.
`(pic'-
`pro-gram-mar
`or proogramoer
`gIt'un’or) I» n. One who programs, esp. one who
`writes computer programs.
`pro-gram-ming language (pro’grt“trn’¥ng,
`—gro-nfing) Ht. An artificial language that can
`be translated into machine language and exe-
`cuted by a computer.
`prog-ress (prog’rés’, —ras. pro’gnEs’) ha. 1.
`Movement. as toward a goal. 2. Development
`
`pro-fee-sion-elcize (pro-fc'sh"a-no—lIz') Pv.
`-ized. -iz-ing. To make professional. —pro-
`fes’sion-aloi-za’tion n.
`pro-fee-sor (pra—fés'or) H2. 1. A college or
`university teacher of the highest rank. 2. A
`teacher or
`instructor. ——pro’fes-so’r|'-al
`(pro’fi—s6r’e—ol, -sor’-. pr6f’i-) adj. ——pro’fes-
`so’ri-at-ly adv. —pro-fes’sor-ship’ n.
`prof-fer (prof’ar) I» v. To offer for acceptance.
`{< OFr. profn‘r.] -—prof’fer n.
`pro-fiocient (pro-fish’ont) bod}. Expert in an
`art, vocation. or area of learning. [4 Lat. profi-
`care, progress] —pro-fi’cien-cy rt.
`pro -file (pro’fil’) b- rt. 1. A side view of an ob-
`ject or a structure, esp. of the human head. 2.
`An outline; silhouette. See Syns at outline. 3.
`Degree of exposure to public notice; visibility:
`kept at
`low profile. 4. A brief biographical
`essay.
`[< Ital. profilare, draw in outline.)
`—pro"fiIe v.
`prof-it [prof"r't) PR. 1. An advantageous gain or
`return; benefit. 2. often profits The return re-
`ceived on an investment or a business undertak-
`ing after all charges or expenses have been
`paid. I» v. 1. To make a gain or profit. 2. To de-
`rive advantage; benefit. See Syns at benefit.
`[< Lat. profecrus] —prof’lt-a-bil’i-ty rt.
`—pro"tt-aoble aaji. -—prof’it-aobly adv.
`prof-it-eer t'prE:f’i-tir’) in. One who makes ex-
`cessive profits on goods
`in short supply.
`-—prof'it-ear’ v.
`prof-Ii-gate (pr6f’li-git, -gar’) b-adj. 1. Given
`over to immorality; dissolute. 2. Recklessly
`wasteful; extravagant. bn. A profligate person.
`
`Ivn. & v.
`
`0005
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