Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PROS'E-LYTE, n. [Fr. proselyte; It. prosolita; Gr. προσηλυτος; προς and ερχομαι, to come; ηλυθον, ηλθον.]

A new convert to some religion or religious sect, or to some particular opinion, system or party. Thus a Gentile converted to Judaism is a proselyte; a Pagan converted to Christianity is a proselyte; and we speak familiarly of proselytes to the theories of Brown, of Black, or of Lavoisier. The word primarily refers to converts to some religious creed.

PROS'E-LYTE, v.t.

To make a convert to some religion, or to some opinion or system. – Macknight.

PROS'E-LY-TED, pp.

Made a convert to some religion.

PROS'E-LY-TING, ppr.

Making converts.

PROS'E-LYT-ISM, n.

1. The making of converts to a religion or religious sect, or to any opinion, system or party. They were possessed of a spirit of proselytism in the most fanatical degree. – Burke.
2. Conversion to a system or creed.

PROS'E-LYT-IZE, v.

To make converts, or to convert, is not well authorized, or not in common use, and is wholly unnecessary.

PRO-SEM-IN-A'TION, n. [L. proseminatus; pro and semino, to sow.]

Propagation by seed. [Not used.] – Hale.

PROS-EN-NE-A-HE'DRAL, a. [Gr. προς, εννεα and εδρα.]

In crystalography, having nine faces on two adjacent parts of the crystal.

PRO'SER, n. [s as z. from prose.]

1. A writer of prose. – Drayton.
2. In cant language, one who makes a tedious narration of uninteresting matters.

PRO'SING, ppr.

Talking or writing in a dull, uninteresting manner.

PROS-O'DI-AL, or PROS-OD'IC-AL, a. [from prosody.]

Pertaining to prosody or the quantity and accents of syllables; according to the rules of prosody. – Warton. Ed. Dispens.

PRO-SO'DI-AN, n. [from prosody.]

One skilled in prosody or in the rules of pronunciation and metrical composition.

PROS'O-DIST, n. [from prosody.]

One who understands prosody. – Walker.

PROS'O-DY, n. [Fr. prosodie; L. prosodia; Gr. προσωδια; προς and ωδη, an ode.]

That part of grammar which treats of the quantity of syllables, of accent, and of the laws of versification. It includes also the art of adjusting the accent and metrical arrangements of syllables in compositions for the lyre.

PROS-O-PO-LEPSY, n. [Gr. προσωποληψια.]

Respect of persons; more particularly, a premature opinion or prejudice against a person, formed by a view of his external appearance. – Moore. Addison.

PROS-O-PO-PE'IA, or PROS'O-PO-PY, n. [Gr. προσωποποιια; προσωπον, person, and ποιεω, to make.]

A figure in rhetoric by which things are represented as persons, or by which things inanimate are spoken of as animated beings, or by which an absent person is introduced as speaking, or a deceased person is represented as alive and present. It includes personification, but is more extensive in its signification. – Encyc.

PROSPECT, n. [L. prospectus, prospicio, to look forward; pro and specio, to see.]

1. View of things within the reach of the eye. Eden and all the coast in prospect lay. – Milton.
2. View of things to come; intellectual sight; expectation. The good man enjoys the prospect of future felicity.
3. That which is presented to the eye; the place and the objects seen. There is a noble prospect from the dome of the state home in Boston, a prospect diversified with land and water, and every thing that can please the eye.
4. Object of view. Man to himself / Is a large prospect. – Denham.
5. View delineated or painted; picturesque representation of a landscape. – Reynolds.
6. Place which affords an extended view. – Milton.
7. Position of the front of a building; as, a prospect toward the south or north. Ezek. xl.
8. Expectation, or ground of expectation. There is a prospect of a good harvest. A man has a prospect of preferment; or he has little prospect of success. – Washington.
9. A looking forward; a regard to something future. Is he a prudent man as to his temporal estate, who lays designs only for a day, without any prospect to or provision for the remaining part of life? [Little used.] – Tillotson.

PRO-SPEC'TION, n.

The act of looking forward, or of providing for future wants. – Paley.

PRO-SPECT'IVE, a.

1. Looking forward in time; regarding the future; opposed to retrospective. The supporting of Bible societies is one of the points on which the promises, at the time of ordination, had no prospective bearing. – W. Jay.
2. Acting with foresight. The French king and king of Sweden are circumspect, industrious and prospective in this affair. – Child.
3. Pertaining to a prospect; viewing at a distance. – Milton.
4. Furnishing an extensive prospect. – Dwight.

PRO-SPECT'IVE-LY, adv.

With reference to the future.

PRO-SPECT'IVE-NESS, n.

State of being prospective.

PRO-SPECT'US, n. [L.]

The plan of a literary work, containing the general subject or design, with the manner and terms of publication, and sometimes a specimen of it.

PROS'PER, v.i.

1. To be successful; to succeed. The Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. – Gen. xxxix. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper. Prov. xxviii.
2. To grow or increase; to thrive; to make gain; as, to prosper in business. Our agriculture, commerce and manufactures now prosper.

PROS'PER, v.t. [L. prospero, from prosperus, from the Gr. προσφερω, to carry to or toward; προς and φερω, to bear.]

To favor; to render successful. All things concur to prosper our design. – Dryden.

PROS'PER-ED, pp.

Having success; favored.