Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PUL'PIT-EL'O-QUENCE, or PUL'PIT-OR'A-TO-RY, n.

Eloquence or oratory in delivering sermons.

PUL-PIT'IC-AL-LY, adv. [in Chesterfield, is not an authorized word.]

PUL'PIT-ISH, a.

Like a pulpit, or manner in a pulpit. – Chalmers.

PUL-PIT-OR'A-TOR, n.

An eloquent preacher.

PULP'OUS, a. [from pulp.]

Consisting of pulp or resembling it; soft like pap. – Philips.

PULP'OUS-NESS, n.

Softness; the quality of being pulpous.

PULP'Y, a.

Like pulp; soft; fleshy; succulent; as, the pulpy covering of a nut; the pulpy substance of a peach or cherry. – Ray. Arbuthnot.

PULS'ATE, v.i. [L. pulsatus, pulso, to beat, from the root of pello, to drive.]

To beat or throb. The heart of a viper or frog will continue to pulsate long after it is taken from the body. – Darwin.

PULS'A-TILE, a. [L. pulsatilis, from pulso, to beat.]

That is or may be struck or beaten; played by beating; a pulsatile instrument of music. – Mus. Dict.

PULS-A'TION, n. [L. pulsatio, supra.]

1. The beating or throbbing of the heart or of an artery, in the process of carrying on the circulation of the blood. The blood being propelled by the contraction of the heart, causes the arteries to dilate, so as to render each dilation perceptible to the touch in certain parts of the body, as in the radial artery, &c.
2. In law, any touching of another's body willfully or in anger. This constitutes battery. By the Cornelian law, pulsation as well as verberation is prohibited. – Blackstone.

PULS'A-TIVE, a.

Beating; throbbing. – Encyc.

PULS-A'TOR, n.

A beater; a striker. – Dict.

PULS'A-TO-RY, a.

Beating; throbbing; as the heart and arteries. – Wotton.

PULSE, n.¹ [puls; L. pulsus, from pello, to drive; Fr. pouls.]

1. In animals, the beating or throbbing of the heart and arteries; more particularly, the sudden dilatation of an artery, caused by the projectile force of the blood, which is perceptible to the touch. Hence we say, to feel the pulse. The pulse is frequent or rare, quick or slow, equal or unequal, regular or intermitting, hard or soft, strong or weak, &c. The pulses of an adult in health, are little more than one pulse to a second; in certain fevers, the number is increased to 90, 100, or even to 140 in a minute.
2. The stroke with which a medium is affected by the motion of light, sound, &c.; oscillation; vibration. Sir Isaac Newton demonstrates that the velocities of the pulses of an elastic fluid medium are in a ratio compound of half the ratio of the elastic force directly, and half the ratio of the density inversely. – Encyc. To feel one's pulse, metaphorically, to sound one's opinion; to try or to know one's mind.

PULSE, n.² [Qv. from L. pulsus, beaten out, as seeds; or Heb. and Ch. פול, a bean, from פלה, to separate.]

Leguminous plants or their seeds; the plants whose pericarp is a legume, as beans, peas, &c. – Milton. Dryden.

PULSE, v.i.

To beat, as the arteries. [Little used.] – Ray.

PULSE, v.t. [L. pulso.]

To drive, as the pulse. [Little used.]

PULSE'LESS, a.

Having no pulsation.

PULS-IF'IC, a. [pulse and L. facio, to make.]

Exciting the pulse; causing pulsation. – Smith.

PUL'SION, n. [from L. pulsus.]

The act of driving forward; in opposition to suction or traction. [Little used.] – More. Bentley.

PUL-TA'CEOUS, a. [from Gr. πολτος, L. puls. See Pulp.]

Macerated; softened; nearly fluid. – Beddoes.

PUL'VER-A-BLE, a. [from L. pulvis, dust, probably from pello, pulso, or its root, that which is beaten fine, or that which driven. See Powder.]

That may be reduced to fine powder; capable of being pulverized. – Boyle.

PUL'VER-ATE, v.t.

To beat or reduce to powder or dust. [But pulverize is generally used.]

PUL'VER-IN, or PUL'VER-INE, n.

Ashes of barilla.

PUL'VER-IZ-A-BLE, a.

That may be pulverized. – Barton.