Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Prize
Prize
(prīz)
, Noun.
[F.
prise
a seizing, hold, grasp, fr. pris
, p. p. of prendre
to take, L. prendere
, prehendere
; in some senses, as 2 (b)
, either from, or influenced by, F. prix
price. See Prison
, Prehensile
, and cf. Pry
, and also Price
.] 1.
That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power.
I will depart my
pris
, or my prey, by deliberation. Chaucer.
His own
Whom formerly he had in battle won.
prize
,Whom formerly he had in battle won.
Spenser.
2.
Hence, specifically; (a)
(Law)
Anything captured by a belligerent using the rights of war; esp., property captured at sea in virtue of the rights of war, as a vessel.
Kent.
Brande & C.
(b)
An honor or reward striven for in a competitive contest; anything offered to be competed for, or as an inducement to, or reward of, effort.
I’ll never wrestle for
prize
more. Shakespeare
I fought and conquered, yet have lost the
prize
. Dryden.
(c)
That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery.
3.
Anything worth striving for; a valuable possession held or in prospect.
I press toward the mark for the
prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. iii. 14.
4.
A contest for a reward; competition.
[Obs.]
Shak.
5.
A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever.
[Written also
prise
.] Prize court
, a court having jurisdiction of all captures made in war on the high seas.
Bouvier.
– Prize fight
, an exhibition contest, esp. one of pugilists, for a stake or wager.
– Prize fighter
, one who fights publicly for a reward; – applied esp. to a professional boxer or pugilist.
Pope.
– Prize fighting
, fighting, especially boxing, in public for a reward or wager.
– Prize master
, an officer put in charge or command of a captured vessel.
– Prize medal
, a medal given as a prize.
– Prize money
, a dividend from the proceeds of a captured vessel, etc., paid to the captors.
– Prize ring
, the ring or inclosure for a prize fight; the system and practice of prize fighting.
– To make prize of
, to capture.
Hawthorne.
Prize
,Verb.
T.
To move with a lever; to force up or open; to pry.
[Written also
prise
.] Prize
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Prized
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Prizing
.] [F.
priser
, OF. prisier
, preisier
, fr. L. pretiare
, fr. pretium
worth, value, price. See Price
, and cf. Praise
.] [Formerly written also
prise
. ] 1.
To set or estimate the value of; to appraise; to price; to rate.
A goodly price that I was
prized
at. Zech. xi. 13.
I
prize
it [life] not a straw, but for mine honor. Shakespeare
2.
To value highly; to estimate to be of great worth; to esteem.
“[I] do love, prize, honor you. ” Shak.
I
prized
your person, but your crown disdain. Dryden.
Webster 1828 Edition
Prize
PRIZE
, n.1.
That which is taken from an enemy in war; any species of goods or property seized by force as spoil or plunder; or that which is taken in combat, particularly a ship. A privateer takes an enemy's ship as a prize. They make prize of all the property of the enemy.2.
That which is taken from another; that which is deemed a valuable acquisition. Then prostrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes,
Soon to obtain and long possess the prize.
3.
That which is obtained or offered as the reward of contest. --I will never wrestle for prize.
I fought and conquer'd, yet have lost the prize.
4.
The reward gained by any performance.5.
In colloquial language, any valuable thing gained.6.
The money drawn by a lottery ticket; opposed to blank.PRIZE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To set or estimate the value of; to rate; as, to prize the goods specified in an invoice. Life I prize not a straw.
2.
To value highly; to estimate to be of great worth; to esteem. I prize your person, but your crown disdain.
3.
To raise with a lever. [See Pry.]