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Webster 1913 Edition

Pry

Pry

,
Noun.
[Corrupted fr.
prize
a lever. See
Prize
,
Noun.
]
A lever; also, leverage.
[Local, U. S. & Eng.]
Pry pole
,
the pole which forms the prop of a hoisting gin, and stands facing the windlass.

Pry

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Pried
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Prying
.]
To raise or move, or attempt to raise or move, with a pry or lever; to prize.
[Local, U. S. & Eng.]

Pry

,
Verb.
I.
[OE.
prien
. Cf.
Peer
to peep.]
To peep narrowly; to gaze; to inspect closely; to attempt to discover something by a scrutinizing curiosity; – often implying reproach.
“ To pry upon the stars.”
Chaucer.
Watch thou and wake when others be asleep,
To
pry
into the secrets of the state.
Shakespeare

Pry

,
Noun.
Curious inspection; impertinent peeping.

Webster 1828 Edition

Pry

PRY

,
Verb.
I.
[a contracted word, the origin of which is not obvious.]
To peep narrowly; to inspect closely; to attempt to discover something with scrutinizing curiosity, whether impertinently or not; as, to pry into the mysteries of nature, or into the secrets of state.
Nor need we with a prying eye survey
The distant skies to find the milky way.

PRY

,
Noun.
Narrow inspection; impertinent peeping.

PRY

,
Verb.
T.
To raise or attempt to raise with a lever. This is the common popular pronunciation of prize, in America. The lever used is also called a pry.

Definition 2025

pry

pry

See also: PRY and prý

English

Verb

pry ‎(third-person singular simple present pries, present participle prying, simple past and past participle pried)

  1. To look where one is not welcome; to be nosey.
  2. To look closely and curiously at.
    • Shakespeare
      Watch thou and wake when others be asleep, / To pry into the secrets of the state.
Translations

Noun

pry

  1. The act of prying.
  2. An excessively inquisitive person.

Translations

Etymology 2

1800, back-formation from prize. ("lever"), construed as a plural noun or as a 3rd person singular verb.

Noun

pry ‎(plural pries)

  1. A lever.
  2. Leverage.
Translations

Verb

pry ‎(third-person singular simple present pries, present participle prying, simple past and past participle pried)

  1. To use leverage to open or widen. (See also prise and prize.)
Translations

Etymology

From Middle English pryen, prien ‎(“to look closely, peer into, pry, spy”), from Old English *prīwan, *prēowian ‎(“to look narrowly, to squint at”), attested by Old English beprīwan, beprēwan ‎(“to wink”). Akin to Old English *prēowot ‎(“closing of the eyes”), attested only in combination, compare prēowthwīl ‎(“blink or twinkling of an eye, moment”), Old English princ ‎(“a wink”). More at prink.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /praɪ/
  • Rhymes: -aɪ

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