Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRO'CRE-A-TIVE-NESS, n.

The power of generating. – Decay of Piety.

PRO'CRE-A-TOR, n.

One that begets; a generator; a father or sire.

PRO-CRUS'TES, n.

In Grecian mythology, a celebrated robber, who stretched his victims upon an iron bed, till their forms fitted its dimensions; whence the metaphorical phrase, the bed of Procrustes.

PROC'TOR, n. [contracted from L. procurator, from procuro; pro and curo.]

1. In a general sense, one who is employed to manage the affairs of another. – Hooker.
2. Appropriately, a person employed to manage another's cause in a court of civil or ecclesiastical law, as in the court of admiralty, or in a spiritual court. – Swift.
3. The magistrate of a university. – Walter.

PROC'TOR, v.i.

To manage; a cant word. Shak.

PROC'TOR-AGE, n.

Management; in contempt. – Milton.

PROC-TOR'IC-AL, a.

Belonging to the academical proctor; magisterial. – Prideaux.

PROC'TOR-SHIP, n.

The office or dignity of the proctor of a university. – Clarendon.

PRO-CUM'BENT, a. [L. procumbens, procumbo; pro and cubo, to lie down.]

1. Lying down or on the face; prone.
2. In botany, trailing; prostrate; unable to support itself, and therefore lying on the ground, but without putting forth roots; as, a procumbent stem. – Martyn.

PRO-CUR'A-BLE, a. [from procure.]

That may be procured; obtainable. – Boyle.

PRO'CU-RA-CY, n. [from L. procuro.]

The management of any thing. [Not used.]

PROC-U-RA'TION, n. [L. procuratio. See Procure.]

1. The act of procuring. [Procurement is generally used.]
2. The management of another's affairs.
3. The instrument by which a person is empowered to transact the affairs of another. – Encyc.
4. A sum of money paid to the bishop or archdeacon by incumbents, on account of visitations; called also proxy. – Todd.

PROC-U-RA'TOR, n.

The manager of another's affairs. [See Proctor.] – Shak. Taylor.

PROC-U-RA-TO'RI-AL, a.

Pertaining to a procurator or proctor; made by a proctor. – Ayliffe.

PROC-U-RA'TOR-SHIP, n.

The office of a procurator. – Pearson.

PRO'CU-RA-TO-RY, a.

Tending to procuration.

PRO-CURE', v.i.

To pimp. – Dryden.

PRO-CURE', v.t. [Fr. procurer; It. procurare; Sp. procurar; L. procuro; pro and curo, to take care. But the French only has the sense of the English word. In the sense of manage, it is never used.]

1. To get; to gain; to obtain; as by request, loan, effort, labor or purchase. We procure favors by request; we procure money by borrowing; we procure food by cultivating the earth; offices are procured by solicitation or favor; we procure titles to estate by purchase. It is used of things of temporary possession more generally than acquire. We do not say, we acquired favor; we acquired money by borrowing, but we procured.
2. To persuade; to prevail on. What unaccustom'd cause procures her hither. [Unusual.] – Shak.
3. To cause; to bring about; to effect; to contrive and effect. Proceed, Salinus, to procure my fall. – Shak.
4. To cause to come on; to bring on. We no other pains endure / Than those that we ourselves procure. – Dryden.
5. To draw to; to attract; to gain. Modesty procures love and respect.

PRO-CUR'ED, pp.

Obtained; caused to be done; effected; brought on.

PRO-CURE'MENT, n.

1. The act of procuring or obtaining; obtainment.
2. A causing to be effected. They think it done / By her procurement. – Dryden.

PRO-CUR'ER, n.

1. One that procures or obtains; that which brings on or causes to be done. – Walton.
2. A pimp; a pander. – South.

PRO-CUR'ESS, n.

A bawd. – Spectator.

PRO-CUR'ING, ppr.

1. Getting; gaining; obtaining.
2. Causing to come or to be done.
3. adj. That causes to come; bringing on. Sin is the procuring cause of all our woes.

PROD, n.

A goad; an awl, or a pin in pattens. [Local.]

PROD'I-GAL, a. [Fr. prodigue; Sp. and It. prodigo; from L. prodigus, from prodigo, to drive forth, to lavish. The last component part of the word is ago, to drive; the first I suppose to be prod, the original word, afterward contracted to pro. See Pro. The Welsh bradyn, a prodigal, if from the Latin, is doubtless of the same origin; but Owen deduces this from brad, a breaking, treachery, treason, and this coincides with Dan. bryder, to break. See Brittle.]

1. Given to extravagant expenditures; expending money or other things without necessity; profuse; lavish; wasteful; not frugal or economical; as, a prodigal man; the prodigal son. A man may be prodigal of his strength, of his health, of his life or blood, as well as of his money.
2. Profuse; lavish; expended to excess or without necessity; as, prodigal expenses.
3. Very liberal; profuse. Nature is prodigal of her bounties.