profiling-machine 
the movement of a guide-pin around the edge or profile 
of the pattern. Such machines are largely used to make 
the part* of such machinery as has to be turned out In large 
quantity with interchangeable parts, as locomotives, lire- 
arms, watches, etc. 
profilist (pro'fel-ist or -fil-ist), n. [< profile + 
-M.] One who takes or makes profiles. 
profilograph (pro-fil'o-graf) ; n. [< E. profile 
+ Gr. Ypfjttf, write.] An instrument used for 
making an automatic record of the profile of 
the ground over which it moves, it consists of a 
light four-wheeled vehicle so arranged that as It advances 
a band of paper is moved mechanically over a table on top 
of the machine a distance corresponding to the distance 
traveled according to a prearranged scale of distances. 
Beneath the machine is suspended a pendulum always 
hanging vertically, and serving to actuate a pencil the 
point of which rests on the paper and leaves a trace upon 
ft. Any inequality of the surface causes the machine to 
incline from the level, and produces a corresponding de- 
viation from a straight line in the mark traced by the pen- 
cil. The data obtained from these indications are suffi- 
cient for reproduction to scale of the profile traversed. 
profit (profit), n. [< ME. profit, profet, proffit, 
proffct, prophete = D. proJUt = G. 8 w . Dan. profit, 
< OF. profit, F. profit = It. profitto, advantage, 
profit, < L. profcctus, advance, progress, growth, 
increase, profit, < proficere, pp. profcctus, go for- 
ward, advance, make progress, bo profitable or 
useful : see proficien t. Cf . project, directly from 
the L. The Sp.j>rorce/io = Pg.proveito, profit, 
is < LL. provectus, advancement, < It.proveltere, 
pp. provcetUK, carryforward, advance: seepro- 
vection.'] If. Advancement; improvement. 
My brother Jaques he keeps at school, and report speaks 
goldenly of his profit. Shot., As you Like it, f. 1. 7. 
2. Any advantage; accession of good from 
labor or exertion ; the acquisition of anything 
valuable, corporeal or intellectual, temporal or 
spiritual. 
All the grete of the grekes gedrlt hym somyn 
To a counsell to come for the comyn proffft. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. .), 1. 9320. 
Wisdom Is good with an inheritance; and by It there is 
profit to them that see the sun. heel. vlL 11. 
What neither yields us profit nor delight 
Is like a nurse's lullaby at night 
Cowper, Conversation, 1. 241. 
3. Specifically, the advantage or gain resulting 
to the owner of capital from its employment 
in any undertaking; the excess of the selling 
price over the original cost of anything; ac- 
quisition beyond expenditure ; pecuniary gain 
in any action or occupation ; gain ; emolument : 
in commerce commonly used in the plural. AS 
used in political economy," pro/it means what is left of 
the product of industry aftr deducting the wages, the 
price of raw materials, and the rent paid In the produc- 
tion, and Is considered as being composed of three parts 
Interest, risk or insurance, and wages of superintendence. 
Profit* in the law of real property designate rights of taking 
something off or out of the land, as, for instance, theright 
of common, as distinguished from etuementi, such as ways 
and access of air and light, which do not Involve taking 
anything from the land. 
Ne alle the prophtte of the lond that the prince owed 
[owned) . . . 
Myjte not areche ... to pale the pore peple. 
Richard the Redcless (ed. Skeat^ iv. 10. 
In Italy they make great profit of the spawn of Carps, by 
selling it to the Jews, who make it Into red caviare. 
/. Wnltini. Complete Angler, p. 145. 
The revenue derived from labour is called wages; that 
derived from stock, by the person who manages or em- 
ploys it, Is called profit. 
Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations, I. 7. 
The gross profit from capital . . . must afford a sufficient 
equivalent for abstinence, indemnity for risk, and remu- 
neration for the labour and skill required for superinten- 
dence. J. S. Mill, Pol. Econ., II. xv. f 1. 
Action of mesne profits, trespass for mesne profits, 
the action brought after successful ejectment, or the claim 
made in an action of ejectment, to compel the disseizor to 
account for and pay over the mesne pronto. Mesne prof- 
its. See mesne. Net pronto. See nets. - Profit and 
loss, the gain or loss arising from the buying or selling of 
goods, or from other commercial transactions. In book- 
keeping gains and losses are spoken of jointly as profit and 
loss, but the former are placed on the creditor and the latter 
on the debtor side In the accounts. Profit and lots is also 
the name of a rule in arithmetic which teaches how to 
calculate the gains or losses on mercantile transactions. 
Rate Of profit, the proportion which the amount of 
profltderived from an undertaking hears to the capital em- 
ployed in it. = Syn. 2. Benefit, Utility, etc. (see advantage*, 
service, welfare, behalf, behoof, weal, good. 3. Revenue, 
etc. (see income), return, avails. 
profit (profit), r. [< ME. profiten, profyteit, 
l>rofffU', propkitcii, < OF. profiler, F. profiler, 
profit; from the noun.] I. trans. To benefit; 
advantage ; be of service to ; help on ; improve ; 
advance. 
If any man chyde thce with cause, be thou assured that 
he cloeth profyte thee. Babtes Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 106. 
"1'is a great meansof vrofitiny yourself, to copy diligent- 
ly excellent pieces and beautiful designs. Drydtn. 
II. iiitraiin. 1. To make improvement: im- 
prove ; grow better; make progress, intellee- 
299 
4757 
tually or morally: as, to profit liy reading or 
by experience. 
My nonprofit* nothing In the world at his hook. 
.S'Ao*., M. W. of W., iv. 1. 15. 
No man profit* by a sermon that hears with pain or 
weariness. Donne, Sermons, v. 
2. To gain in a material sense ; become better 
off or richer: as, to profit by trade or manufac- 
tures. 
The Romans, though possessed of their ports, did not 
profit much by trade. Artmlhnvt, Ancient Coins. 
An animal of a predatory kind, which has prey that can 
be caught and killed without help, pro/it* by living alone. 
H. Spencer, Prin. of Psychol., | 60S. 
3. To be of use or advantage ; bring good. 
Riches profit not In the day of wrath. Frov. xi. 4. 
What the world teaches profit* to the world, 
What the soul teaches profili to the soul. 
Lowell, Parting of the Ways. 
profitable (prof'i-ta-bl), a. [< ME. profitable, 
proffi table, prophitable, < OF. profitable, F. pro- 
fitable^ Pr. trrofechable, proficltable, profitable 
= It. profi Habile, profittabole), advantageous, < 
profit, advantage : see pro/ft.] Useful; advan- 
tageous; yielding or bringing profit or gain; 
gainful; lucrative: as, a profi table trade; profit- 
able business. 
Yf we take this full tite, and tary no lengur, 
Bothe pepull and pilage, and put |them| Into ship, 
Hit Is a profitable pray of persons me thlnke. 
Deitruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.\ 1. 3166. 
"Bi selnt Poul!" quod Pers, "theos beoth prophitable 
wordes ! 
This is a louell lesson ; vr lord hit the for-jelde ! " 
Piert f lawman (A), vii. 2B2. 
A pound of man's flesh taken from a man 
Is not so estimable, profitable neither, 
As Hesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. 
Shalt., M. of V., 1. S. 167. 
To tell you my dream . . . was pleasant to me, and 
profitable to you. Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, p. 227. 
= 8yn. Remunerative, productive, beneficial, 
profitableness (prof'i-ta-bl-nes), M. [< profit- 
able + -!<.] The quality of being profitable ; 
gainfulness; usefulness; advautageousuess: 
as, the profilablenens of trade, 
profitably (prof'1-ta-bli), rfr. (X profitable + 
-ly~.] In a profitable manner; with gain ; gain- 
fully; usefully; advantageously, 
profiitet, I'. A Middle English form of prophet. 
profiter (prof i-ter), n. One who profits. 
A wonderful profiter by opportunities. 
Nineteenth Century, XXIV. 473. 
profitless (profit-les), a. [< profit + -/csx.] 
Void of profit, gain, or advantage. 
Profitless usurer, why dost thou use 
So great a sum of sums, yet canst not live? 
Shot., Sonnets, iv. 
profitlessly (i>rof'it-les-li), adv. [< profitless + 
-/;/-.] In a profitless manner; without profit. 
profit-sharing (prof'it-shar'ing), H. The fact 
or principle of the division of realized profits 
between the capitalist, the employer, and the 
employee, in addition to regular interest, salary, 
and wages. JV. /'. (Hlman, Profit Sharing, x. 
profligacy (profli-ga-si), . [< profiiga(te) + 
-cy.] The character or condition of being prof- 
ligate; a profligate or very vicious course of 
life; abandoned conduct; shameless dissipa- 
tion. 
Hitherto it has been thought the highest pitch ot profli- 
gacy to own instead of concealing crimes, and to take pride 
in them Instead of being ashamed of them. 
BoHiujbroke, Idea of a Patriot King. 
The fatal consequences which must flow from profligacy 
and licentiousness. 
Bp. Barrinffton, Letter to his Clergy, 1789. 
=Syn. Shamelessness. See abandoned. 
profligatet (prof'li-gat), r. t. [< L. profligatus, 
ppTotprofiigare ( > Sp. Pg. profligar), dash to the 
ground, overthrow, ruin, destroy, < pro, forth, 
forward, + fligere, strike, dash: see WoicS.] 
To drive away; disperse; discomfit; overcome. 
In the which I doubt not but God will rather aid us, 
yea, and fight for us, than see us vanquished and proJK- 
gated. Hall't Union (1548). (HalRmll.) 
You have not yet projKyated the Pope quite, till the 
second and third . . . Part of your Book of his Suprem- 
acy come out. Milton, Answer to Salmasius, \ Hi. 194. 
profligate (prof'li-gat), a. and . [< L. profli- 
<ilim, overthrown, abandoned, wretched, vile, 
pp. of profligare, overthrow, ruin: see profli- 
gate, r.] I. a. If. Overthrown; conquered; 
defeated. 
We once more, as conquerors. 
Have both the field and honour won; 
The foe is pi -ojliyate , and run. 
& Butter, Hndibras, I. ill. 728. 
2. Ruined in morals; abandoned to vice : lost 
to principle, virtue, or decency; extremely vi- 
cious; shamelessly wicked. 
profound 
Made prostitute and profligate the mute, 
Detuued to each obscene and Impious use. 
Dryden, To the Memory of Mrs. Anne Kllllgrew, L 68. 
No absolutely pnftiaate king could have got Into the 
miserable abyss In which we find Henry \ 1 1 1. struggling 
during the latter half of his reign. 
Slubbt, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 290. 
= Syn. 2. Pnijtiyatt, Abandoned, Reprobate, etc. See alxin- 
doiurd and wiared. 
II. n. An abandoned person ; one who has 
lost all regard for good principles, virtue, or de- 
cency. 
How could such a pnfiiimte as Antony, or a lioy of eigh- 
teen like Octavlus, ever dare to dream of giving law to 
such an empire? Haiti. 
profligately (prof U-gat-li), a<lr. [< profiiyatr 
+ -ly'*.] In a profligate manner; without 
principle or shame ; iu a course of extreme 
viciousness. 
profligateness (prof'li-gat-nes), . [< profli- 
gate + -H<WI.] The character of being profli- 
gate; profligacy. 
He was of opinion that, "If this country could he pre- 
served from utter profliijateiic** ami ruin, It must be by 
their [the clergy's) means." Bp. Porteoul, Abp. Seeker. 
profligationt (prof-li-ga'shon), H. [< LL. profli- 
gatio(n-), ruin, destruction^ L. profiiyare, over- 
throw, ruin, destroy: see profligate, v.] De- 
feat; rout. 
The braying of Sllenus's ass conduced much to the prof- 
ligation of the giants. 
Bacon, Wisdom of the Ancients, Pref. 
profluencet (prof lij-ons), . [< L. profliieiiliii, 
a flowing forth, < proflucn(t-)s, flowing forth: 
see profiuent.] The act or quality of being 
proflueut ; a forward progress or course. 
The proltucnee or proceedings of their fortunes. 
Sir //. w,:ii:.n. Reliqulffi, p. 104. 
profluentt (prof lij-ent), rt. [< L. profiiicn(l-)n, 
ppr. of profiuerr, flow forth or along, < pro, forth, 
+ fiucre, flow: we jfxettt.] Flowing forth or 
forward. 
Baptizing in the i/rorhient stream. 
Milton, P. L, xil. 442. 
pro forma (pro for'mii). [L. : pro, for ; forma, 
abl. of forma, form.] As a matter of form. 
During his (Foote'sJ continuance In the Temple he was 
seen there pro fonna, . . . eating his way (via commons) 
i of the law. 
W. Coolte, Memoirs of S. Footc, 1. 16. 
to the profession of the law. 
Pro forma invoice, a statement In the form of an in- 
voice which may be presented at the custom-house by an 
owner or importer who cannot furnish an invoice, and if 
duly verilledis allowed as a substitute. 
profound (pro-found'), a. and . K ME. pro- 
found, jirofinide, < OF.profond.proJnnd, F. pro- 
fond = Sp. Pg. profuu<(o = It. ]>roj'onilo, < L. 
profuitdus, deep, vast, < pro, forth, forward, + 
fundus, bottom: see /mid 1 .] I. a. 1. Deep; de- 
scending or being far below the surface, or far 
below the adjacent places ; having great depth. 
The cliches profunde. 
Kom. of Partenay (E. E. T. S.), 1. 1180. 
All ... the profound seas hide 
In unknown fathoms. Shalr., W. T., Iv. 4. 601. 
A gulf profound as that Serbonlan bog. 
Milton, P. L., IL 502. 
Specifically (a) In anaf., deep-seated; not superficial: 
specifically applied to several structures, as arteries and 
muscles. See profunda. (d) In entmn., strongly impress- 
ed ; very deep and distinct : as, profound punctures, striae, 
or Indentations, (c) Coming from a great depth ; deep- 
fetched. 
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound 
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk, 
And end his being. Shak., Hamlet, II. 1. 94. 
(<f) Bending low; hence, lowly; humble; exhibiting or 
expressing deep humility : as, a profound bow. 
2. Intellectually deep; entering deeply into 
subjects ; not superficial or obvious ; deep in 
knowledge or skill ; penetrating. 
A head for thought profound and clear unmatch'd. 
Burnt, On William .Smellle. 
A sparrow flattering about the church is an antagonist 
which the most profound theologian in Europe is wholly 
unable to overcome. Sydney Smith, in Lady Holland, III. 
3. Characterized by magnitude or intensity ; 
deep-felt; intense; great- 
I do love 
My country's good with a respect more tender, 
More holy and profound, than mine own life. 
Shot., Cor., ill. :'.. 113. 
They treat themselves with most profound respect. 
Pope, Imlt of Horace, II. ii. ir.l. 
The members rose and uncovered their heads in profound 
silence, and the King took his seat in the chair. 
Macaulay, Nugent's llampden. 
With a general sigh 
At matrimony the profound mistake. 
Lrmrniny, Ring and Book, I. ISO. 
If God exists, no Injustice can lie so excessive, no error 
can be so profound, as to fail In offering the deepest ado* 
ration and greatest praise our minds can conceive or oar 
actions express. Mirart, Nature and Thought, p. 231. 
