Port-royalist noun (Eccl. Hist.) One of the dwellers in the Cistercian convent of Port Royal des Champs, near Paris, when it was the home of the Jansenists in the 17th century, among them being Arnauld, Pascal, and other famous scholars. Confer Jansenist .

Portsale noun [ Port gate + sale .] Public or open sale; auction. [ Obsolete] Holland.

Portuary noun [ Confer Portass .] (R. C. Ch.) A breviary. [ Eng.]

Portuguese adjective [ Confer French portugais , Spanish portugues , Portuguese portuguez .] Of or pertaining to Portugal, or its inhabitants. -- noun sing. & plural A native or inhabitant of Portugal; people of Portugal.

Portuguese man-of-war . (Zoology) See Physalia .

Portulaca noun [ Latin , purslane.] (Botany) A genus of polypetalous plants; also, any plant of the genus.

» Portulaca oleracea is the common purslane. P. grandiflora is a South American herb, widely cultivated for its showy crimson, scarlet, yellow, or white, ephemeral blossoms.

Portulacaceous adjective (Botany) Of or pertaining to a natural order of plants ( Portulacaceæ ), of which Portulaca is the type, and which includes also the spring beauty ( Claytonia ) and other genera.

Porwigle noun See Polliwig .

Pory adjective Porous; as, pory stone. [ R.] Dryden.

Posé adjective [ French, placed, posed.] (Her.) Standing still, with all the feet on the ground; -- said of the attitude of a lion, horse, or other beast.

Pose noun [ Anglo-Saxon gepose ; of uncertain origin; confer W. pas a cough, Sanskrit kās to cough, and English wheeze .] A cold in the head; catarrh. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Pose noun [ French pose , from poser . See Pose , transitive verb ] The attitude or position of a person; the position of the body or of any member of the body; especially, a position formally assumed for the sake of effect; an artificial position; as, the pose of an actor; the pose of an artist's model or of a statue.

Pose transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Posed ; present participle & verbal noun Posing .] [ French poser to place, to put, Latin pausare to pause, in Late Latin also, to place, put, from Latin pausa a pause, Greek ..., from ... to make to cease, probably akin to English few . In compounds, this word appears corresponding to Latin ponere to put, place, the substitution in French having been probably due to confusion of this word with Latin positio position, from ponere . See Few , and confer Appose , Dispose , Oppose , Pause , Repose , Position .] To place in an attitude or fixed position, for the sake of effect; to arrange the posture and drapery of (a person) in a studied manner; as, to pose a model for a picture; to pose a sitter for a portrait.

Pose intransitive verb To assume and maintain a studied attitude, with studied arrangement of drapery; to strike an attitude; to attitudinize; figuratively, to assume or affect a certain character; as, she poses as a prude.

He . . . posed before her as a hero.

Thackeray.

Pose transitive verb [ Shortened from appose , for oppose . See 2d Appose , Oppose .]
1. To interrogate; to question. [ Obsolete] "She . . . posed him and sifted him." Bacon.

2. To question with a view to puzzling; to embarrass by questioning or scrutiny; to bring to a stand.

A question wherewith a learned Pharisee thought to pose and puzzle him.

Barrow.

Posed adjective Firm; determined; fixed. "A most posed . . . and grave behavior." [ Obsolete] Urquhart.

Poser noun One who, or that which, puzzles; a difficult or inexplicable question or fact. Bacon.

Poseur noun masc. ; plural Poseurs Po`seuse" noun fem. ; plural Poseuses , [ French] A person who poses or attitudizes, esp. mentally.

Posied adjective Inscribed with a posy.

In poised lockets bribe the fair.

Gay.

Posingly adverb So as to pose or puzzle.

Posit transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Posited ; present participle & verbal noun Positing .] [ Latin ponere , positum , to place. See Position .]
1. To dispose or set firmly or fixedly; to place or dispose in relation to other objects. Sir M. Hale.

2. (Logic) To assume as real or conceded; as, to posit a principle. Sir W. Hamilton.

Position noun [ French position , Latin positio , from ponere , positum , to put, place; probably for posino , from an old preposition used only in comp. (akin to Greek ...) + sinere to leave, let, permit, place. See Site , and confer Composite , Compound , v. , Depone , Deposit , Expound , Impostor , Opposite , Propound , Pose , v. , Posit , Post , noun ]

1. The state of being posited, or placed; the manner in which anything is placed; attitude; condition; as, a firm, an inclined, or an upright position .

We have different prospects of the same thing, according to our different positions to it.

Locke.

2. The spot where a person or thing is placed or takes a place; site; place; station; situation; as, the position of man in creation; the fleet changed its position .

3. Hence: The ground which any one takes in an argument or controversy; the point of view from which any one proceeds to a discussion; also, a principle laid down as the basis of reasoning; a proposition; a thesis; as, to define one's position ; to appear in a false position .

Let not the proof of any position depend on the positions that follow, but always on those which go before.

I. Watts.

4. Relative place or standing; social or official rank; as, a person of position ; hence, office; post; as, to lose one's position .

5. (Arith.) A method of solving a problem by one or two suppositions; -- called also the rule of trial and error .

Angle of position (Astron.) , the angle which any line (as that joining two stars) makes with another fixed line, specifically with a circle of declination. -- Double position (Arith.) , the method of solving problems by proceeding with each of two assumed numbers, according to the conditions of the problem, and by comparing the difference of the results with those of the numbers, deducing the correction to be applied to one of them to obtain the true result. -- Guns of position (Mil.) , heavy fieldpieces, not designed for quick movements. -- Position finder (Mil.) , a range finder. See under Range . -- Position micrometer , a micrometer applied to the tube of an astronomical telescope for measuring angles of position in the field of view. -- Single position (Arith.) , the method of solving problems, in which the result obtained by operating with an assumed number is to the true result as the number assumed is to the number required. -- Strategic position (Mil.) , a position taken up by an army or a large detachment of troops for the purpose of checking or observing an opposing force.

Syn. -- Situation; station; place; condition; attitude; posture; proposition; assertion; thesis.

Position transitive verb To indicate the position of; to place. [ R.] Encyc. Brit.

Po*si"tion*al adjective Of or pertaining to position.

Ascribing unto plants positional operations.

Sir T. Browne.

Positive adjective [ Middle English positif , French positif , Latin positivus . See Position .]
1. Having a real position, existence, or energy; existing in fact; real; actual; -- opposed to negative . " Positive good." Bacon.

2. Derived from an object by itself; not dependent on changing circumstances or relations; absolute; -- opposed to relative ; as, the idea of beauty is not positive , but depends on the different tastes individuals.

3. Definitely laid down; explicitly stated; clearly expressed; -- opposed to implied ; as, a positive declaration or promise.

Positive words, that he would not bear arms against King Edward's son.

Bacon.

4. Hence: Not admitting of any doubt, condition, qualification, or discretion; not dependent on circumstances or probabilities; not speculative; compelling assent or obedience; peremptory; indisputable; decisive; as, positive instructions; positive truth; positive proof. "'T is positive 'gainst all exceptions." Shak.

5. Prescribed by express enactment or institution; settled by arbitrary appointment; said of laws.

In laws, that which is natural bindeth universally; that which is positive , not so.

Hooker.

6. Fully assured; confident; certain; sometimes, overconfident; dogmatic; overbearing; -- said of persons.

Some positive , persisting fops we know,
That, if once wrong, will needs be always.

Pope.

7. Having the power of direct action or influence; as, a positive voice in legislation. Swift.

8. (Photog.) Corresponding with the original in respect to the position of lights and shades, instead of having the lights and shades reversed; as, a positive picture.

9. (Chemistry) (a) Electro- positive. (b) Hence, basic; metallic; not acid; -- opposed to negative , and said of metals, bases, and basic radicals.

Positive crystals (Opt.) , a doubly refracting crystal in which the index of refraction for the extraordinary ray is greater than for the ordinary ray, and the former is refracted nearer to the axis than the latter, as quartz and ice; -- opposed to negative crystal , or one in which this characteristic is reversed, as Iceland spar, tourmaline, etc. -- Positive degree (Gram.) , that state of an adjective or adverb which denotes simple quality, without comparison or relation to increase or diminution; as, wise , noble . -- Positive electricity (Elec) , the kind of electricity which is developed when glass is rubbed with silk, or which appears at that pole of a voltaic battery attached to the plate that is not attacked by the exciting liquid; -- formerly called vitreous electricity ; -- opposed to negative electricity . -- Positive eyepiece . See under Eyepiece . -- Positive law . See Municipal law , under Law . -- Positive motion (Machinery) , motion which is derived from a driver through unyielding intermediate pieces, or by direct contact, and not through elastic connections, nor by means of friction, gravity, etc.; definite motion. -- Positive philosophy . See Positivism . -- Positive pole . (a) (Electricity) The pole of a battery or pile which yields positive or vitreous electricity; -- opposed to negative pole . (b) (Magnetism) The north pole . [ R.] -- Positive quantity (Alg.) , an affirmative quantity, or one affected by the sign plus [ +]. -- Positive rotation (Mech.) , left-handed rotation. -- Positive sign (Math.) , the sign [ +] denoting plus , or more , or addition.

Positive noun
1. That which is capable of being affirmed; reality. South.

2. That which settles by absolute appointment.

3. (Gram.) The positive degree or form.

4. (Photog.) A picture in which the lights and shades correspond in position with those of the original, instead of being reversed, as in a negative . R. Hunt.

5. (Electricity) The positive plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell.

Positive adjective
1. (Mach. & Mech.) (a) Designating, or pertaining to, a motion or device in which the movement derived from a driver, or the grip or hold of a restraining piece, is communicated through an unyielding intermediate piece or pieces; as, a claw clutch is a positive clutch, while a friction clutch is not. (b) Designating, or pertaining to, a device giving a to-and-fro motion; as, a positive dobby.

2. (Vehicles) Designating a method of steering or turning in which the steering wheels move so that they describe concentric arcs in making a turn, to insure freedom from side slip or harmful resistance.

Positively adverb In a positive manner; absolutely; really; expressly; with certainty; indubitably; peremptorily; dogmatically; -- opposed to negatively .

Good and evil which is removed may be esteemed good or evil comparatively, and positively simply.

Bacon.

Give me some breath, some little pause, my lord,
Before I positively speak herein.

Shak.

I would ask . . . whether . . . the divine law does not positively require humility and meekness.

Sprat.

Positively charged or electrified (Electricity) , having a charge of positive electricity; -- opposed to negatively electrified .

Positiveness noun The quality or state of being positive; reality; actualness; certainty; confidence; peremptoriness; dogmatism. See Positive , adjective

Positiveness , pedantry, and ill manners.

Swift.

The positiveness of sins of commission lies both in the habitude of the will and in the executed act too; the positiveness of sins of omission is in the habitude of the will only.

Norris.

Positivism noun A system of philosophy originated by M. Auguste Comte, which deals only with positives . It excludes from philosophy everything but the natural phenomena or properties of knowable things, together with their invariable relations of coexistence and succession, as occurring in time and space. Such relations are denominated laws , which are to be discovered by observation, experiment, and comparison. This philosophy holds all inquiry into causes , both efficient and final, to be useless and unprofitable.

Positivist noun A believer in positivism. -- adjective Relating to positivism.

Positivity noun Positiveness. J. Morley.

Positure noun See Posture . [ Obsolete]

Posnet noun [ Old French poçonet , dim. of poçon a pot, a vessel.] A little basin; a porringer; a skillet.

Posologic, Posological adjective [ Confer French posologique .] Pertaining to posology.

Posology noun [ Greek ... how much + -logy : confer French posologie .] (Medicine) The science or doctrine of doses; dosology.

Pospolite noun [ Pol. pospolite ruszenie a general summons to arms, an arriere-ban; pospolity general + ruszenie a stirring.] A kind of militia in Poland, consisting of the gentry, which, in case of invasion, was summoned to the defense of the country.

Poss transitive verb [ See Push .] To push; to dash; to throw. [ Obsolete or Prov. Eng.]

A cat . . . possed them [ the rats] about.

Piers Plowman.

Posse noun See Posse comitatus .

In posse . See In posse in the Vocabulary.

Posse comitatus [ Latin posse to be able, to have power + Late Latin comitatus a county, from comes , comitis , a count. See County , and Power .]

1. (Law) The power of the county, or the citizens who may be summoned by the sheriff to assist the authorities in suppressing a riot, or executing any legal precept which is forcibly opposed. Blackstone.

2. A collection of people; a throng; a rabble. [ Colloq.]

» The word comitatus is often omitted, and posse alone used. "A whole posse of enthusiasts." Carlyle.

As if the passion that rules were the sheriff of the place, and came off with all the posse .

Locke.

Possess transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Possessed ; present participle & verbal noun Possessing .] [ Latin possessus , past participle of possidere to have, possess, from an inseparable preposition (cf. Position ) + sedere to sit. See Sit .]
1. To occupy in person; to hold or actually have in one's own keeping; to have and to hold.

Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.

Jer. xxxii. 15.

Yet beauty, though injurious, hath strange power,
After offense returning, to regain
Love once possessed .

Milton.

2. To have the legal title to; to have a just right to; to be master of; to own; to have; as, to possess property, an estate, a book.

I am yours, and all that I possess .

Shak.

3. To obtain occupation or possession of; to accomplish; to gain; to seize.

How . . . to possess the purpose they desired.

Spenser.

4. To enter into and influence; to control the will of; to fill; to affect; -- said especially of evil spirits, passions, etc. "Weakness possesseth me." Shak.

Those which were possessed with devils.

Matt. iv. 24.

For ten inspired, ten thousand are possessed .

Roscommon.

5. To put in possession; to make the owner or holder of property, power, knowledge, etc.; to acquaint; to inform; -- followed by of or with before the thing possessed, and now commonly used reflexively.

I have possessed your grace of what I purpose.

Shak.

Record a gift . . . of all he dies possessed
Unto his son.

Shak.

We possessed our selves of the kingdom of Naples.

Addison.

To possess our minds with an habitual good intention.

Addison.

Syn. -- To have; hold; occupy; control; own. -- Possess , Have . Have is the more general word. To possess denotes to have as a property . It usually implies more permanence or definiteness of control or ownership than is involved in having . A man does not possess his wife and children: they are (so to speak) part of himself. For the same reason, we have the faculties of reason, understanding, will, sound judgment, etc.: they are exercises of the mind, not possessions .

Possession noun [ French possession , Latin possessio .]
1. The act or state of possessing, or holding as one's own.

2. (Law) The having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command; actual seizin or occupancy; ownership, whether rightful or wrongful.

» Possession may be either actual or constructive; actual, when a party has the immediate occupancy; constructive, when he has only the right to such occupancy.

3. The thing possessed; that which any one occupies, owns, or controls; in the plural, property in the aggregate; wealth; dominion; as, foreign possessions .

When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions .

Matt. xix. 22.

Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession .

Acts v. 1.

The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions .

Ob. 17.

4. The state of being possessed or controlled, as by an evil spirit, or violent passions; madness; frenzy; as, demoniacal possession .

How long hath this possession held the man?

Shak.

To give possession , to put in another's power or occupancy. -- To put in possession . (a) To invest with ownership or occupancy; to provide or furnish with; as, to put one in possession of facts or information . (b) (Law) To place one in charge of property recovered in ejectment or writ of entry. -- To take possession , to enter upon, or to bring within one's power or occupancy. -- Writ of possession (Law) , a precept directing a sheriff to put a person in peaceable possession of property recovered in ejectment or writ of entry.

Possession transitive verb To invest with property. [ Obsolete]

Possessionary adjective Of or pertaining to possession; arising from possession.

Possessioner noun
1. A possessor; a property holder. [ Obsolete] " Possessioners of riches." E. Hall.

Having been of old freemen and possessioners .

Sir P. Sidney.

2. An invidious name for a member of any religious community endowed with property in lands, buildings, etc., as contrasted with mendicant friars. [ Obsolete] Wyclif.

Possessival adjective Of or pertaining to the possessive case; as, a possessival termination. Earle.

Possessive adjective [ Latin possessivus : confer French possessif .] Of or pertaining to possession; having or indicating possession.

Possessive case (Eng. Gram.) , the genitive case; the case of nouns and pronouns which expresses ownership, origin, or some possessive relation of one thing to another; as, Homer's admirers; the pear's flavor; the dog's faithfulness. -- Possessive pronoun , a pronoun denoting ownership; as, his name; her home; my book.

Possessive noun
1. (Gram.) The possessive case.

2. (Gram.) A possessive pronoun, or a word in the possessive case.

Possessively adverb In a possessive manner.

Possessor noun [ Latin : confer French possesseur .] One who possesses; one who occupies, holds, owns, or controls; one who has actual participation or enjoyment, generally of that which is desirable; a proprietor. " Possessors of eternal glory." Law.

As if he had been possessor of the whole world.

Sharp.

Syn. -- Owner; proprietor; master; holder; occupant.

Possessory adjective [ Latin possessorius : confer French possessoire .] Of or pertaining to possession, either as a fact or a right; of the nature of possession; as, a possessory interest; a possessory lord.

Possessory action or suit (Law) , an action to regain or obtain possession of something. See under Petitory .