Pratt Institute
a coeducational non-sectarian institution in Brooklyn, N. Y.; founded in 1887. Reported at the close of 1919: Professors and instructors, 148; students, 4,743; president, F. B. Pratt.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Single-source entries: P (102)
These 15 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Pratt Institute, Prawn, Preaching.
Prawn
in zoölogy, Palæmon serratus, and, less properly, any other species of the genus. Its ordinary length is about four inches; color bright gray, spotted and lined with darker purplish gray. It is a favorite article of food, and is found in vast numbers in the North Atlantic.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Pre-Emption
the act or right of buying before others. Also, the right of settler on lands to purchase in prefera ence to others, when the land is sold.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Pre-Existence
existence previous to or before something else. Also, existence in a previous state; existence of the soul previous to its union with the body. Pre-existence was a doctrine of several others of the Pythagoreans, and the old philosophers, and is still found in many of the Eastern religions.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Pre-Raphaelism
an English school of painting. It was their object to oppose that system of art which had grown up since the time of Raphael; one of the main characteristics of which was the pursuit of beauty at the expense of truth. PRE-RAPHAELITE BROTHER- HOOD, an association founded in 1848 by Willian Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Preaching
the act of preaching; a public religious discourse. The modern system of preaching was unknown in the early Church. The general mode then was for the priest to read portions of the Old or New Testament, and explain or enforce the precepts which they contained. Generally, sermons were delivered whenever the Scriptures were read, and sometimes several, by different persons at the same meeting. About the 13th century, the scholastic divines directed their chief attention to the study of the sacred Scriptures, and were hence called Bible divines. They introduced a new and artificial mode of preaching, called declaring. Before this time, the clergy generally adopted postulating, or expounding a large portion of Scripture, sentence by sentence. By the new method, the preacher read a text out of some book and chapter of the Old or New Testament, dividing it into several parts and expounding them. The opposition to this textual mode of preaching continue continued for upward of a century, but at length it came generally to prevail. The divisions or parts of a modern sermon are usually the introduction, the proposition, the illustration, and the application.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Preadamitism
the teaching of Isaac de la Peyrère (1592-1676), a French Calvinist, who asserted that Paul had revealed to him that Adam was not the first man created. Peyrère published a treatise in 1655, based on Romans v: 12-14, but it was publicly burnt, and he was imprisoned at Brussels. His views, however, were espoused by many people.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Prebend
the stipend or maintenance granted to a canon of a cathedral or collegiate church out of its estate; a canonry in England. A simple prebend is one restricted to the revenue only; a dignitary prebend has jurisdiction annexed to it.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Preble
EDWARD, an American naval officer; born in Portland, Me., Aug. 15, 1761; crossed the ocean to Europe in an American privateer in 1777; served as midshipman in the "Protector" in 1779; was captured and imprisoned for some time in the prison-ship "Jersey"; was promoted captain in 1799, in which year he commanded the "Essex" in the East Indies for the protection of American interests. Early in 1803 he was made commander of the "Constitution"; and in June of that year was placed in command of a fleet sent against Tripoli. He greatly distinguished himself in causing that country to sue for peace, a feat accomplished by a number of skillful bombardments. He returned to the United States and received through Congress the thanks of the nation and a gold medal. He died in Portland, Me., Aug. 25, 1807.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Precedent
a judicial decision, interlocutory or final, which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar cases; also a form of proceeding to be followed in similar cases.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Precentor
an officer in a cathedral, formerly sometimes called chaunter, and ranking in dignity next to the dean. His stall is on the opposite (N.) side of the choir, and that side is called cantoris side, the side of the cantor, as the other is called decani, the side of the dean. He has the direction of the musical portion of the service. The precentor is, in cathedrals of the new foundations, a minor canon, and is removable by the dean and chapter.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Preceptory
a religious house of the Knights Templars, subordinate to the Temple, or principal house of the order in London, under the government of an eminent knight. The preceptories of each province were subj subject to a pro- 1 vincial superior, three of whom ranked above all the rest, viz., those of Jerusalem, Tripolis, and Antioch.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Precious Stones
The hardness of precious stones, beginning with the hardest, is as follows: 1. Diamond; 2. Ruby; 3. Sapphire; 4. Topaz; 5. Hyacinth; 6. Emerald; 7. Garnet; 8. Amethyst; 9. Agate; 10. Turquoise; 11. Opal.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Precipitation
When a body dissolved in a fluid, either through the action of the air, or of a gas, or of a chemical agent in solution, is made to separate and fall down in the concrete state, this falling down is called precipitation, and the matter thus separated is called a precipitate. See SOLUBILITY.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Precipitation of Matter
One of the phenomena of spiritualism which least admits of a rational explanation is that known as the passing of solids through solids." The statement of the hypothetical fourth dimension of space is an attempt at a solution of the problem; so also is the theory of "precipitation of matter." The latter suggests that before one solid body passes through another it is resolved into its component atoms, to be precipitated in its original form when the passage is accomplished. M. Camille Flammarion found a parallel to this process in the passage of a piece of ice-a solid-through a napkin. The ice passes through the napkin in the form of water, and may afterwards be re-frozen. This is matter passing through matter, a solid passing through a solid, after it has undergone a change of condition. And we are only carrying out M. Flammarion's inference in suggesting that it is something analogous to this process which occurs in all cases of solids passing through solids.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism