Part 573

What humble gestures! What profound reverence!

Duppa.

Pro*found" (?), n. 1. The deep; the sea; the ocean.

God in the fathomless profound Hath all this choice commanders drowned.

Sandys.

2. An abyss. Milton.

Pro*found", v. t. To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Pro*found", v. i. To dive deeply; to penetrate. [Obs.]

Pro*found"ly, adv. In a profound manner.

Why sigh you so profoundly?

Shak.

Pro*found"ness, n. The quality or state of being profound; profundity; depth. Hooker.

Pro*ful"gent (?), a. [Pref. pro- + L. fulgere to shine.] Shining forth; brilliant; effulgent. [Obs.] "Profulgent in preciousness." Chaucer.

Pro*fun"di*ty (?), n.; pl. -ties (#). [L. profunditas: cf. F. profondite. See Profound.] The quality or state of being profound; depth of place, knowledge, feeling, etc. "The vast profundity obscure." Milton.

Pro*fuse" (?), a. [L. profusus, p. p. of profundere to pour forth or out; pro forward, forth + fundere to pour: cf. F. profus. See Fuse to melt.] 1. Pouring forth with fullness or exuberance; bountiful; exceedingly liberal; giving without stint; as, a profuse government; profuse hospitality.

A green, shady bank, profuse of flowers.

Milton.

2. Superabundant; excessive; prodigal; lavish; as, profuse expenditure. "Profuse ornament." Kames.

Syn. -- Lavish; exuberant; bountiful; prodigal; extravagant. -- Profuse, Lavish, Prodigal. Profuse denotes pouring out (as money, etc.) with great fullness or freeness; as, profuse in his expenditures, thanks, promises, etc. Lavish is stronger, implying unnecessary or wasteful excess; as, lavish of his bounties, favors, praises, etc. Prodigal is stronger still, denoting unmeasured or reckless profusion; as, prodigal of one's strength, life, or blood, to secure some object. Dryden.

Pro*fuse" (?), v. t. To pour out; to give or spend liberally; to lavish; to squander. [Obs.] Chapman.

Pro*fuse"ly (?), adv. In a profuse manner.

Pro*fuse"ness, n. Extravagance; profusion.

Hospitality sometimes degenerates into profuseness.

Atterbury.

Pro*fu"sion (?), n. [L. profusio: cf. F. profusion.]

1. The act of one who is profuse; a lavishing or pouring out without sting.

Thy vast profusion to the factious nobles?

Rowe.