prongbuck 
prongbuck (prong'buk), . The American an- 
telope or pronghorn, Antilorii/n-a untiricana. 
prong-chuck (prdng'chuk), n. A buruishing- 
chucK with a steel prong. E. H. Knit/lit. 
prongdoe (prdng'do), w. The female of the 
prongbuck. 
prong-hoe (prdng'ho), n. A hoe with prongs to 
break the earth. 
pronghorn (pr&ng'h6rn), a. and n. I. a. Hav- 
ing horns with a prong or snag, as the prong- 
buck : as, the pronghorn antelope. 
II. n. The prongbuck or cabrit. This remark- 
able animal is an Isolated American type, like the saiga of 
the Old World; it has no near relatives living, and is sup- 
posed to be in the line of descent from some stock more 
or less like the fossil Sivatherium of India. It is uot an 
antelope in any proper sense, though universally so called 
in the regions it inhabits the first literary use of the name 
dating about 1812. The pronghorn was first scientifically 
described from material furnished by Lewis and Clarke to 
George Ord. who railed it Antilope americana in 1815, but 
very soon Instituted the genus Antilocapra (which see, 
and Antiloeaprulee, for technical characters). The male 
stands about 3 feet high at the croup and withers ; the 
limbs are very slender ; the general form is that of a deer, 
but rather stouter (contrary to a general Impression) ; the 
eyes are extremely large and full, and placed directly 
under the base of the horns ; these in the male are from 
6 or 8 inches to a foot in length, curved variously, but 
always with the characteristic prong or snag in the fe- 
male mere hair}* cones tipped with a horny thimble an Inch 
long. The horns are shed annually, late in the fall or 
early in winter. The pelage is close, without any flowing 
t ut'ts, but coarse and orittle, and nearly worthless; the 
hide makes a valuable buckskin when dressed. The veni- 
son is excellent, resembling mutton rather than deer- 
meat. There is an extensive set of cutaneous sebaceous 
glands, eleven In number, which during the rut exhale a 
strong hlrclne odor. The prongdoe regularly drops twins, 
usually late In spring or early in summer, and the kids 
are not spotted (as the young of Cercitltr usually are), but 
resemble their parents. The bucks and does are alike of 
a tawny or yellowish-brown color, with a large white disk 
on the buttocks, a white crescent and triangle on the fore 
part of the neck, and the under parts and inner sides of the 
limbs white ; the forehead, muzzle, a spot on the neck over 
the gland, and the horns and hoofs are mostly black or 
blackish. During most of the year the animals go in bands, 
sometimes numbering thousands, but oftener of much 
less extent. They range over all the region of the great 
plains, from British America far into Mexico, excepting 
where they have of late years been driven on* by the settle- 
ment of the country. Unlike the bison, the pronghorn does 
not appear to have ever ranged east of the Mississippi. 
It Is noted for its flcetness, and for a singular mixture of 
timidity and curiosity, which renders it susceptible of 
being "flagged, "or decoyed within rifle-range by the ex- 
hibition of any unusual object, as a handkerchief tied to a 
pole. The gait is buoyant and easy, and when bounding 
at full speed the animal is probably the fleetest of any 
American game. Hut it lacks bottom, and its astonishing 
bursts of speed cannot be long sustained. Almost any 
pack of hounds can overtake it, if the game has not too 
much advantage at the start The pronghorn is subject 
to an epidemic disease of unknown character, which in 
some years has destroyed many thousands. This fact, 
together with the incessant persecution it suffers, has 
very appreciably diminished its numbers as well as con- 
tracted its range of late years, though it appears to be still 
very far from thu point of extermination. 
pronityt (pro'ni-ti), . [= It.pronM (cf. Sp. 
proneutad = Pg. proneidade), \ L. pronita(t-)s, 
inclination, (pronus, bent, inclined : see^roiif.] 
Same as proneness. 
Saint Paule in hys Pistle to y Rom. spekethof the pro- 
niin and morions iii the fleshe remaining as the reliques 
of original sinne. Sir T. More, Works, p. 550. 
pronominal (pro-nom'i-nal), o. [=F. Sp. Pg. 
pronominal = It.pron.oiinale,<Ij.pronontinalis, 
pertaining to a pronoun, < pronomen, a pronoun : 
see pronoun.] Belonging to or of the nature of 
a pronoun : as, a pronominal root. 
In Siam, when asking the king's commands, the pronom- 
inal form is, as much as possible, evaded. 
H. Spencer, Prln. of Soclol., 897. 
pronominally (pro-nom'i-nal-i), adv. With the 
effect or force of a pronoun; by means of a 
pronoun. 
" What was that notion of his " they usually spoke of 
the minister prmominaily. UomUs, Annie Kilburn, xxx. 
pronotal (pro-no'tal), a. [< pronotum + -al.] 
Situated on the pronotum ; of or pertaining to 
the pronotum. 
pronotary, Same as protnonotary. 
And I knew you a Pronotarw* boy, 
That wrote Indentures at the tonne house doore. 
Daniel, Queen's Arcadia, iii. 1. 
pronotum (pro-no'tum), .; pi. pronota (-ta). 
[NL., < Or. irpd, before, + vorof, back: see no- 
1 1< ni."\ The anterior one of the three divisions 
of the notum of an insect, preceding the meso- 
notura; the dorsal or tergal section of the pro- 
thorax ; the upper part of the first thoracic seg- 
ment or prothoracic tergum. It is typically divided 
into four scleritcs (the pnescutum, scutum, scutellum, 
and postscutcllum). which sclerites are, however, usually 
more or less consolidated and therefore indistinguishable. 
See cut under In*ecta. Cruciate, emarginate, obvol- 
vent, pulvlnate, etc., pronotum. See the adjectives. 
Producted pronotum. See product. 
4771 
pronoun (pro'noun), n. [Not found in MK. ; 
appur. altered (to suit the earlier noun) < P. 
pronom = Sp. pronombre = Pg. pronome = It. 
proiiome, < L. pronomen, a word standing in 
place of a noun, < pro, for, + nomen, a noun : 
see noun.] In gram., a word used instead of a 
noun to avoid the repetition of it ; a demonstra- 
tive word, pointing to a person or thing, but 
not describing it otherwise than by designating 
position, direction, relation to the speaker, or 
the like; one of a small body of words, in Indo- 
European and other families of language, com- 
ing from a few roots, different from those from 
which come in general verbs and nouns, and 
having the office of designating rather than de- 
scribing : they are believed to have borne an 
important part in the development of inflective 
structure in language. They are divided Into various 
classes : personal (doubtless originally demonstrative), as 
/, thou, he, etc. ; pruaetrioe, which are the adjective forms 
of the personal, as my, thy, hi*, etc. ; demonstrative, as '/(/, 
that, etc. ; interrogative, us who, nfiat, etc. ; relative (which 
are always either demonstratives or interrogatives with 
changed office, implying an antecedent to which they re- 
fer or relate), as that, which, who, etc. ; and indefinite, 
which are of various meaning, and shade off into ordinary 
nouns, as each, either, some, any, such, etc. Abbreviated 
pr., pron. 
pronounce (pro-nouns'), r. ; pret. and pp. pro- 
nounced, ppr. pronouncing. [< ME. jironouncen, 
< OF. proiioncer, F. prononcer = Sp. Pg. pro- 
nunciar = lt.pronunciarc, pronunciare, < L.pro- 
nuntiarr, proclaim, publish, (.pro, forth, + nun- 
tiare, announce, < minting, that makes known: 
see nuncio. Cf. announce, denounce, enounce, re- 
nounce.] I. trans. If. To declare ; make known ; 
announce; proclaim. 
I will pronounce this bloudle deede, 
And blotto thine honor so. 
Qatcoiffne, Philomene, p. 100. (Arber.) 
2. To form or articulate by the organs of 
speech; utter articulately; speak; utter; spe- 
cifically, to give a word its due recognized 
sound in uttering it. 
Then said they unto him. Say now Shibboleth : and he 
said Sibboleth : for he could not frame to pronounce it 
right. Judges xii. 6. 
Yet sometime " Tarquin " was pronounced plain, 
his teeth, 
pronunciation 
pronounced (pro-nounsf), p. " [Pp. of pro- 
nounct; r.J Strongly marked or aenned; de- 
cided. 
Our friend's views became every day more pronotmaed. 
Tltacttray. 
The outline of the tower Is not unlike that of the Para- 
surameswara temple. . . . but the central belt is more 
pronounced. J. Feryutson, Hist. Indian Arch., p. tax. 
Wolsey was too great a man, and Uore too good a man, 
to be tools of llenry, especially after the inclination to- 
wards tyrannic caprice became mun prniunmeed. 
Stubbt, Medieval and Modem Illat., p. 248. 
pronouncedly (pro-noun'sed-li), adv. In a pro- 
nounced manner ; markedly. 
"Fatal Water," the most pronouncedly pathetic of the 
tales. The Academy, Feb. 8, 1890, p. 98. 
But through his 
if the name he tore. 
Shak., Lucrece, 1. 17 
pronouncement (pro-uouns'ment), . [< F. 
prononcenteiit = Pr. prononciamen = Sp. pro- 
nunciamiento = It. pronunziamcnto; < ML. pro- 
nuiiciamentnm, < L. pronuntiare, pronounce: 
see pronounce.] The act of pronouncing; a 
proclamation ; a formal announcement. 
The law is apprehended by ocular Inspection, audible 
pronouncement, and other like natural ways of cognition. 
Uunhnell, Forgiveness and Law, p. 114. 
pronouncer (pro-noun 'ser), H. One who pro- 
nounces, or utters or declares. 
pronouncing (pro-noun'sing),^. a. [Ppr. of pro- 
nounce, t>.] Pertaining to, indicating, or teach- 
ing pronunciation: as, ajironoMMciuj/dictioiiary. 
pronubial (pro-nu'bi-al), a. [< L. pronubux, 
pertaining to marriage, < pro, for, + nubere, 
marry, wed : see nubile.] Presiding over mar- 
riage. Congrere. [Rare.] 
pronuclear (pro-nu'klf-ar), a. [(.pronuclc-tui + 
-r3.] Pertaining to a pronucleus, or having 
its character. 
pronncleate (pr6-nu'kle-at). a. [< pronucle-ux 
+ -ate 1 .] Having a prbnucleus or pronuclei. 
pronucleus (pr6-nu'kle-us),)i. ; \>\.i>ronnclfi(-l). 
[< L. pro, before, + nucleus, nucleus.] 1. A 
primitive nucleus ; the nucleus of an ovum or 
of a spermatozoon before these have united 
to form the definitive nucleus of an impreg- 
nated ovum. That of the ovum is the female, that 
of the spermatozoon the male pronucleus. The forma- 
tion of the female pronudeus commonly occurs in a ripe 
ovum after the extrusion of the particles of yulk known 
3. To utter formally, officially, or solemnly. 
I do beseech your lordship, for the wrongs 
This man hath done me, let me pronounce Tils punishment! 
Beau, and Ft., Woman-Hater, v. 5. 
An Idol in the form of a Dog or Wolf, which was wor- 
shipped, and Is said to have pronounced Oracles at this 
place. Ma mill nil. Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 30. 
4. To speak or utter rhetorically ; deliver: as, 
to pronounce an oration. 
The things that mount the rostrum with a skip, 
And then skip down again ; pronounce a text . . . 
Cowprr, Task, II. 410. 
5. To declare or affirm. 
O gentle Romeo, 
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully. 
Shale., R. and J., ii. 2.94. 
I dare not pronounce yon will be a just monarch. 
Ford, Broken Heart, iv. 3. 
An author who laughs at the public which pronouncet 
him a dunce. Goldsmith, The Bee, No. 2. 
= 8yn. Enunciate, Deliver, etc. See utter. 
II. iii trans. 1. To speak with confidence or 
authority; make declaration; utter an opinion; 
declare one's self. 
Nor can [I] pronounce upon it 
. . . whether 
The habit, hat, and feather, 
Or the frock and gipsy bonnet, 
Be the neater and completer. 
Tcnnyton, Maud, xx. 1. 
Asked what she most desired, she pronmincril for a spe- 
cial providence of tea and sugar. 
Pint Year of a Silken Reign, p. 22. 
Among the Irish peerage there are more than a dozen 
who have either pronounced for the principle of Home 
Rule or are not hostile to it if a fair scheme be devised. 
Contemporary Ret., LII. 814. 
2. To utter words; specifically, to articulate 
words correctly. 
pronouncet (pro-nouns'), . Pronunciation; 
declaration. 
That all controversie may end in the finall pronounce or 
canon of one Arch-primat. 
Milton, Church-Government, I. 6. 
pronounceable (pro-noun'sa-bl), a. [< pro- 
noMiicf + -<iblc. Vf.proniinciabte.] Capable of 
being pronounced or uttered. 
Its flrst syllable, "Pen," 
\spronounctablc; then 
Come two LLs and two II Us. two FFs and an N. 
Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, I. 65. 
as the polar ylobulet of llobin, and It is that part of the 
original germinal vesicle which remains behind after such 
extrusion, receding from the surface of the ovum and as- 
suming a spherical form. The male pronucleus Is simply 
the head of a spermatozoon buried In the yolk, and aliout 
to blend its substance with that of the female pronucleuK. 
See feminonuclewt, wa*culiniticleus. 
2. In hot., the nucleus of a conjugating gamete, 
which on coalescing with another pronucleus 
forms the germ-nucleus. Gocbcl. 
pronunciablet (pro-nun'gi-a-bl), . [= It.pro- 
nunziabile, < L. pronuntiare, pronunciare, pro- 
nounce (see pronounce), + -able.] Pronounce- 
able. 
Vowels pronunciable by the Intertextnre of a consonant. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1885), I. 54. 
pronnncial (pro-nun'sial), a. [< L. pronun- 
tiare, pronunciare, pronounce (see pronounce), 
+ -aJ.j Pertaining to pronunciation. 
pronunciamento (pro-nun'si-a-men'td), n. 
Same as prnnnnciamiento. 
pronunciamiento (Sp. pron. prd-nBn-the'-a- 
mien'to), n. [Sp., = K. pronouncement.] A 
manifesto or proclamation; a formal announce- 
ment or declaration : often applied to the dec- 
larations of insurrectionists. A\so pronuncia- 
mento. 
They (the people of Snez] are, according to all accounts, 
a turbulent and somewhat fanatic set, fond of quarrels, 
and slightly addicted to pronunciamentot. 
A. F. Burton, El-Medinah, p. 118. 
pronunciation (pro-nun-si-a'shon), n. [< F. 
pronunciation = Sp. pronunciacion = Pg. pro- 
nunciafffo = It. pronunciazione, < L. pronuntia- 
tio(n-), pronuncMtio(n-), a proclamation, a pub- 
lication, < pronuntiare, pronunciare, proclaim, 
announce: see pronounce.] 1. The act of pro- 
nouncing, or uttering with articulation; the 
manner of uttering words or letters ; specifical- 
ly, the manner of uttering words which is held 
to be correct, as based on the practice of the 
best speakers : as, the pronunciation of a name; 
distinct or indistinct pronunciation. Abbrevi- 
ated pron. 
The standard of pronunciation is not the authority of 
any dictionary, or of any orthoepist ; but it Is the present 
usage of literary and well-bred society. 
NuttaU, quoted in N. and Q., 7th ser., VII. 174. 
2. The art or manner of uttering a discourse 
with euphony and grace : now called delivery. 
Well-placing of words for the sweetness of pronuncia- 
tion was not known till Mr. Waller introduced it. 
Dryden, Def. of Epil. to second part of Conq. of i iranada, ii. 
