Prætorian
(Præ*to"ri*an) a. See Pretorian.
Prætorium
(Præ*to"ri*um) n. See Pretorium.
Præzygapophysis
(||Præ*zyg`a*poph"y*sis) n. (Anat.) Same as Prezygapophysis.
Pragmatic
(Prag*mat"ic Prag*mat"ic*al) a. [L. pragmaticus busy, active, skilled in business, especially
in law and state affairs, systematic, Gr. fr. a thing done, business, fr. to do: cf. F. pragmatique. See
Practical.]
1. Of or pertaining to business or to affairs; of the nature of business; practical; material; businesslike in
habit or manner.
The next day . . . I began to be very pragmatical.
Evelyn.
We can not always be contemplative, diligent, or pragmatical, abroad; but have need of some delightful
intermissions.
Milton.
Low, pragmatical, earthly views of the gospel.
Hare. 2. Busy; specifically, busy in an objectionable way; officious; fussy and positive; meddlesome. "Pragmatical
officers of justice." Sir W. Scott.
The fellow grew so pragmatical that he took upon him the government of my whole family.
Arbuthnot. 3. Philosophical; dealing with causes, reasons, and effects, rather than with details and circumstances; —
said of literature. "Pragmatic history." Sir W. Hamilton. "Pragmatic poetry." M. Arnold.
Pragmatic sanction, a solemn ordinance or decree issued by the head or legislature of a state upon
weighty matters; — a term derived from the Byzantine empire. In European history, two decrees under
this name are particularly celebrated. One of these, issued by Charles VII. of France, A. D. 1438, was
the foundation of the liberties of the Gallican church; the other, issued by Charles VI. of Germany, A. D.
1724, settled his hereditary dominions on his eldest daughter, the Archduchess Maria Theresa.
Pragmatic
(Prag*mat"ic), n.
1. One skilled in affairs.
My attorney and solicitor too; a fine pragmatic.
B. Jonson. 2. A solemn public ordinance or decree.
A royal pragmatic was accordingly passed.
Prescott. Pragmatically
(Prag*mat"ic*al*ly) adv. In a pragmatical manner.
Pragmaticalness
(Prag*mat"ic*al*ness), n. The quality or state of being pragmatical.
Pragmatism
(Prag"ma*tism) n. The quality or state of being pragmatic; in literature, the pragmatic, or
philosophical, method.
The narration of this apparently trifling circumstance belongs to the pragmatism of the history.
A. Murphy. Pragmatist
(Prag"ma*tist) n. One who is pragmatic.
Pragmatize
(Prag"ma*tize) v. t. To consider, represent, or embody (something unreal) as fact; to materialize.
[R.] "A pragmatized metaphor." Tylor.
