Emily Dickinson Lexicon

print (-ed), v. [ME < OFr prente, see print, n.] (webplay: single).

1. Write; publish; publicize; [fig.] communicate; reveal; tell.
2. Engrave; etch characters into a surface; carve on a headstone.

Priscilla, proper n. [dim. of L. Prisca, 'ancient'.]

Priscilla Mullins Alden (1598-1650); daughter of William Mullins and Alice Wood; female character in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's The Courtship of Miles Standish; woman that married John Alden after he courted her by proxy for Miles Standish; [fig.] humankind; mortals; the Church as a Bride for the Bridegroom Redeemer.

prism, n. [Late L. prisma < Gk πρίσμα, a thing sawn, prism < πρίζιν, to saw.]

1. Triangular geometrical form of transparent glass that refracts light into the colors of the spectrum; [fig.] magnifying glass; instrument which makes the internal beauty of an object visible; device that creates a deceptively beautiful image from the fleeting play of light.
2. [Fig.] ice; crystal; frozen realm; inaccessible region.

prison (-s), n. [Early ME < OFr < L. prensiōn-em, seizing, apprehending < prehenděre, seize.] (webplay: binds, criminal, jail, liberty, take).

1. Jail; dungeon; penitentiary; detention cell; place of confinement; penal facility; enforced restraint; loss of liberty.
2. [Fig.] grave; sepulcher; tomb; death; eternal sleep.
3. [Fig.] body; frame; mortal tabernacle; housing for the human spirit.
4. Phrase. “Scarlet prison”: body of Christ; hands and feet of the crucified Lord.

prisoner, n. [ME < Fr. < medieval L. pris(i)ōnāri-us; see prison, n.] (webplay: liberty).

Captive; hostage; inmate; detainee; restrained person; confined individual.

prithee, interj. [Early Mod. E colloquialism for “I pray thee”; see pray, v.]

1. Please; if you please; I invite you. 2/A13-2 prithee, my Brother, / into my garden come!
2. Please tell me; I ask you.

privacy, n. [see private, adj.] (webplay: life, right, society, solitude, way).

1. Concealment; secret location; hiding place; unobserved position.
2. Solitude; seclusion; retirement; aloneness; isolation; [fig.] burial; occupation of a casket.

private, adj. [L. prīvāt-us, withdrawn from public life, deprived of office, peculiar to oneself, private < prīv-āre, bereave, deprive < prīv-us, single, individual, private, peculiar, deprived.] (webplay: known, private interest, secrecy).

1. Personal; own; individual; peculiar; particular; confidential; secret; unrevealed.
2. [Fig.] silent; unseen; undetected; unperceived by sight or hearing;

privately, adv. [see private.]

Commonly; ordinarily; usually; unostentatiously; humbly; without publicity or fanfare; stealthily; furtively; solitarily; separately; singly; separately; remotely; inaccessibly; unreachably.

privilege, n. [L. prīvilēgi-um, bill or law in favour of or against an individual, privilege, prerogative < prīv-us, private, peculiar + lēgem, law.] (webplay: advantage, common, custom, held, individual, men, palace, public, raise, right, separate).

1. Rare pleasure; special blessing; unusual favor; uncommon reward; remarkable benefit.
2. Right; advantage; entitlement; license; permission; exclusive permit.
3. Ability; opportunity; chance.