Chapter Proof Spirit to Protector of P by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Proof Spirit to Protector

Proof Spirit A mixture of equal parts (by weight) of alcohol and water. The proof of spirit consists in little bubbles or beads which appear on the top of the liquor after agitation. When any mixture has more alcohol than water it is called over proof, and when less it is termed under proof.

Prooshan Blue (My). A term of great endearment. After the battle of Waterloo the Prussians were immensely popular in England, and in connection with the Loyal True Blue Club gave rise to the toasts, “The True Blue” and the “Prussian Blue.” Sam Weller addresses his father as “Vell, my Prooshan Blue.”

Propaganda The name given to the “congregation” de propaganda fide, established at Rome by Gregory XV., in 1622, for propagating throughout the world the Roman Catholic religion. Any institution for making religious or political proselytes.

Proper Names used as Common Nouns
   Crebillon = terrible.
   Dumas = imaginative
   Fénelon = fabulous.
   Le Sage = humorous.
   Molière = comic.
   Montaigne = thoughtful.
   Rabelais = unclean.
   Rousseau = amorous.
   Victor Hugo = incendiary.
   Zola = licentious; Zolaesque, in the manner or style of Zola, the French novelist.

Property Plot (The), in theatrical language, means a list of all the “properties” or articles which will be required in the play produced. Such as the bell, when Macbeth says, “The bell invites me;” the knock, when it is said, “Heard you that knocking?” tables, chairs, banquets, tankards, etc, etc.

Prophesy upon Velvet (To). To prophesy what is already a known fact. Thus, the issue of a battle flashed to an individual may, by some chance, get to the knowledge of a “sibyl,” who may securely prophesy the issue to others; but such a prediction would be a “prophecy on velvet;” it goes on velvet slippers without fear of stumbling.

“If one of those three had spoken the news over again ... the old lady [or sibyl] prophesies upon velvet.”- Sir W. Scott: The Pirate, ch. xxi.

Prophet (The). Mahomet is so called. (570-632.)
   The Koran says there have been 200,000 prophets, only six of whom have brought new laws or dispensations; Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mahomet.
   The Prophet. Joachim, Abbot of Fiore. (1130-1202.)
   Prophet of the Syrians. Ephraem Syrus (4th century).
   The Great Prophets. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel; so called because their writings are more extensive than the prophecies of the other twelve.
   The Minor or Lesser Prophets. Hose'a, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi; so called because their writings are less extensive than those of the four Great Prophets.

Prophetess (The). Ay-e'shah, the second wife of Mahomet; so called, not because she had any gift of prophecy, but simply because she was the favourite wife of the “prophet;” she was, therefore, emphatically “Mrs. Prophet.”

Propositions in logic, are of four kinds, called A, E, I, O. “A” is a universal affirmative, and “E” a universal negative; “I” a particular affirmative, and “O” a particular negative.

“Asserit A, negat E, verum generaliter ambo!
Asserit I, negat O, sed particulariter ambo.”
A asserts and E denies some universal proposition;
I asserts and O denies, but with particular precision.

Props in theatrical slang, means properties, of which it is a contraction. Everything stored in a theatre for general use on the stage is a “prop,” but these stores are the manager's props. An actor's “props” are the clothing and other articles which he provides for his own use on the stage. In many good theatres the manager provides everything but tights and a few minor articles; but in minor theatres each actor must provide a wardrobe and properties.

Prorogue (2 syl.). The Parliament was prorogued. Dismissed for the holidays, or suspended for a time. (Latin, pro-rogo, to prolong.) If dismissed entirely it is said to be “dissolved.”