Part 607

Pro*scrib"er (?), n. One who, or that which, proscribes, denounces, or prohibits.

Pro"script (?), n. [See Proscribe.] 1. A proscription; a prohibition; an interdict. [R.]

2. One who is proscribed. [R.]

Pro*scrip"tion (?), n. [L. proscriptio: cf. F. proscription.] 1. The act of proscribing; a dooming to death or exile; outlawry; specifically, among the ancient Romans, the public offer of a reward for the head of a political enemy; as, under the triumvirate, many of the best Roman citizens fell by proscription.

Every victory by either party had been followed by a sanguinary proscription.

Macaulay.

2. The state of being proscribed; denunciation; interdiction; prohibition. Macaulay.

Pro*scrip"tion*al (?), a. Proscriptive.

Pro*scrip"tion*ist, n. One who proscribes.

Pro*scrip"tive (?), a. Of or pertaining to proscription; consisting in, or of the nature of, proscription; proscribing. Burke. -- Pro*scrip"tive*ly, adv.

Prose (?), n. [F. prose, L. prosa, fr. prorsus, prosus, straight forward, straight on, for proversus; pro forward + versus, p. p. of vertere to turn. See Verse.] 1. The ordinary language of men in speaking or writing; language not cast in poetical measure or rhythm; -- contradistinguished from verse, or metrical composition.

I speak in prose, and let him rymes make.

Chaucer.

Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.

Milton.

I wish our clever young poets would remember my homely definitions of prose and poetry, that is; prose -- words in their best order; poetry -- the best order.

Coleridge.

2. Hence, language which evinces little imagination or animation; dull and commonplace discourse.

3. (R. C. Ch.) A hymn with no regular meter, sometimes introduced into the Mass. See Sequence.

Prose, a. 1. Pertaining to, or composed of, prose; not in verse; as, prose composition.

2. Possessing or exhibiting unpoetical characteristics; plain; dull; prosaic; as, the prose duties of life.

Prose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prosed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prosing.] 1. To write in prose.

2. To write or repeat in a dull, tedious, or prosy way.

Prose, v. i. 1. To write prose.

Prosing or versing, but chiefly this latter.

Milton.

Pro*sec"tor (?), n. [L., an anatomist, from prosecare to cut up; pro before + secare to cut.] One who makes dissections for anatomical illustration; usually, the assistant of a professional anatomist.

Pros"e*cu`ta*ble (?), a. Capable of being prosecuted; liable to prosecution.