Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Volume 2.djvu/513

 PRO

( 8po)

PRO

to Cuncifenefs and Laco-

The reafon of this Change which the Moderns have made of the antique, the fame Author refers to a View to the Appearance of Solidity. See Pedestal.

PROLABIA, Fore-Lips; a Term in Anatomy for that part of the Labia which jets out. See Labia.

PROLATE, in Geometry, an Epithet apply dtp a Spheroid produced by the Revolution of a Semi-Ellipns about its longer Diameter. See Spheroid.

If the Solid be formed by the Revolution of a Semi- Ellipfis about its ftiorter Diameter, it is call'd an Oblate Spheroid, of which Figure is the Earth we inhabit, and, perhaps, all the Planets too; having their Equatorial Dia- meter longer than their Polar. See Oblate.

PROLATION, in Mufic, the A3 of Shaking, or making fcveral Inflections of the Voice, on the fame Syl-

cipate, or prevent what might be objected by the Adver- fary. See Figure.
 * PROLEPSIS, a Figure in Rhctrric, by which we anti-

Thus; It may perhaps be objected, &c.

The Word in the original Greek, nrejM^H, fignifies Pre- occcupation. _, , . , „.,, ..

PROLEPTIC "Difeafe, a Diftemper which ftill antici- pates or whofe Paroxyfm returns fooner, and fooner, every day;' as is frequently the Cafe in Agues, &c.

PROLIFIC, in Medicine, fomcthing that has the Qua- lities necetfliry for generating. See Fecundity.

Some Phyficians pretend to diftinguiiTi whether or no the Seed be 'Prolific. See Seep. ..

PROLIXITY, in Difcourfe, the Fault of entering into too minute a Detail; of being too long, precife.and circum- ilantial to a degree of Tedioufnefs. See Style

'Prolixity is the Vice oppofitt nifm. SeeLACONicAL. -.

'Prolixity is a Fault commonly charged on Gmccardin, Gaflcndus, &c. F. Rapin obferves, that formal Harangues, at the Head of an Army, and Deliberations of naueous 'Prolixity, formerly fo frequent, are now dialed in all the better Hiitoties.

PROLEGOMENA, in Philology, preparatory Obser- vations, or Difcourfe* prefixed to a Book, iSc. containing fomethiog neceffary for the Reader to be apprized of, to enable him the better to underftand the Book, to enter deeper into a Science, &c. ,

1 he generality of Arts and Sciences require fome previ- ous Inftruaions, fome Prolegomena.

The Word is Greek wa^yA"', f° rm d of "c^W". to 'Preface. See Preface..

PROLOCUTOR, of the Convocation, the Speaker, or Chairman of that ArTembly. See Convocation.

The Archbifhop of Canterbury*, by his Office, Frefi- dent, or Chairman of the Upper Houfe of Convocation

The Prolocutor of the Lower Houfe is an Officer chofen by the Members the firft day of their meeting; and to be approved of by the Higher.

•Tis by the Prolocutor their Affairs, Debates, i£c. are to be diteBed; and their Refolutions, Meffages, &c. deliver d to the higher Houfe: By him all things propounded to the Houfe are read, Suffrages coHeired, &c.

PROLOGUE, Prolocus, in Dramatic Poetry, a Dil- courfe addref.-'d to the Audience before the Drama or Play begin. See Drama.

The original Intention of the <Prolcgue was to advertife the Audience of the Subjeft of the Piece, and to prepare them to enter more eafily into the Aaron; and fometimes to make an Apology for the Poet. -

This laft Article feems to have almoft excluded the two former, in the Englijb Drama; and to be in fole poffeffion of the 'Prologue. . .. ,

The Prologue is of a much more antient Standing than the Epilogue. See Epilogue.

The French have left off the Ufe of Prologues; thofe few they now and then make, have nothing in them of the genu- ine Prolorue; as bearing no relation to the Subjea, but be- ing mere Flourifhes or Harangues in praife of the King, &c.

In the antient Theatre, the 'Prologus was properly the A8or who rehears'd the Prologue : The Prologus was e- ifeem''d one of the Dramatis Perfon£, and never appear 'd in the Piece in any other Charader; fo that the Learned are furprized to find Mercury in Plautus's Amphitryo, fpeakinc; the 'Prologue, and yet a3ing a confiderable part in the Play afterwards.

The Prolcue, therefore, among them was a part ot the Piece; indeed,"™! an effential, but an accelTary part.

With us the 'Prologue is no part at all; but fometh.ng in- tirelydiftinaanda-part: With them the Drama was open d with the appearance of the 'Prologue; with us tis not open d till after the Pro'ogas is retir'd : with us therefore the Currain is kept dole till after the 'Prologue, with them it muft have been withdrawn before.

Hence proceeds a ftill more confiderable Difference, in

the praaice of the 'Prologue : For with us the Prokgus fpeaks in his real or perional CharaBer; 'tis Mr. Booth or Mrs.O/^feWfpeaks, not Cato or Andromache : With them the 'Prologue fpoke in his Dramatic Charafler, not a5 <Tur- pins or Attilius, but as 'Prologus.

With us, he direas his Speech to the Audience, con- fider'd as in a Play-houfe; to Fir, Box, and Gallery: With them, he ought, in propriety, to have fpoke as to a Cho- rus of Byltanders, or Perfons to be prefent at the real Ac- tion : But this being in good meafure inconfiftent with theDefign of the 'Prologue; their Perfons fpoke in their Dramatic Capacity to the Audience in its perfonal Capa- city i which was an Irregularity that either the good Foitune, or the good Scnfe of the Moderns, have freed them from.

They had three Kinds of Prologues; the firft vmSmixi,, wherein the Poet deliver'd the Argument of the Piece; the fecond auwmdi, wherein the Poet recommended himfelf or his Piece to the People; the third tmf^mi:, wherein Objeaions were obviated, &c.

The Word 'Prologue is form'd from the Greek ■nej^'y&, 'Prteloquium, Fore-Speech.

PROLUSION, Prolusio, in Literature, a Term ap- ply'd to certain Pieces or Compofitions, made previoufly to others; by way of Prelude, or Exercife.

Siomede calls the Culex of Virgil, and his other Opitf- cula, Prolufions; becaufe wrote before the great ones.

The Trolufions of Strada are very ingenious pieces : The famous M. Huet, Bifhop of Auranches, has all Strada's Prolllfions by heart.

PROMETHEUS, in the antient Aflronomy, was the Name of a Conllellation of the Northern Hcmifphere; now call'd Hercules, or Engonajis. See Hercules.

PROMISE, in Law, is when a Man binds himfelf by hfs Word to perform fuch an Aa as is agreed on and concluded with another, upon a valuable Confidcration. Sec Con- tract, Pact, Covenant, c5c

PROMONTORY, in Geography, a Point of Land, or a Rock, projeaing out into the Sea; the Extremity of which to the Sea-ward, is ufually call'd a Cape, or an Head- land. See Cape.

PROMOTERS, in Law, thofe Perfons, who in popular and penal Aaions, do profecute Offenders in their Name, and the King's; and are entitled to part of the Fines and Penalties for their pains.

Thefe, among the Romans, were call'd guadruplatores, or Ttelatores.

Sir Pho: Smith obferves, that Promoters belong chiefly to the Exchequer and King's-Bench. My Lord Coke calls them, turbidum Hominum Genus,; Inft.

PROMPT Payment, ready Money, fee Payment.

In many Cafes there is a Difcount for Prompt Payment. Sec Discount, Rebate, £i?c.

PROMPTER, in the Drama, an Officer pofted behind the Scenes, whofe Bufinefs is to watch attentively the Aaors fpeaking on the Stage, in order to fugged and pur them forward, when at a ft and; to correct them when amifs, &c. in rheir parts.

PROMULGATED, Promulced, Prcmugattts, fome- thing publifh'd or proclaim'd.

In this fenfe we fay, the Je-wip Law was promulgated by Mcfes: The Promulgation of the New Law was chiefly effeaed by the ApofUes and Difciples.

PRONAOS, in the antient Architeaure, a Porch to a Church, Palace, or other fpacious Building. See Porch.

PRONATION, among Anatomifls. The Radius of the Arm has two kinds of Motions; the one call'd Pronation, the other Supination. See Radius.

Pronation, is when the Palm of the Hand is turn'd downwards; Supination, when the back of the Hand is downwards.

There are two Mufcles, whereby the Pronation is effec- red, call'd

PRONATORS, Pronatores, in Anatomy, two Muf- cles of the Radius, which ferve to turn the Palm of the Fland downwards. See Pronation.

They are diftinguifh'd by the Names of Rotundas and Quadrants.

The Word is form'd from the Latin Promts, that which lies on the Fore-fide.

The Radius has two other Mufcles, call'd Supinators, which have an oppofite Effcfl. See Supinators.

Pronator Radii Quadrants, or Brevis, riles broad and flefhy, from the lower and inner part of the Ulna; and paffing tranfverfely over the Ligament that joins the Ra- dius to the Ulna, is inferted into the fupcrior and external part of the Radius : which it helps to pull inwardly; to- gether with the ' ,. i

Pronator Radii Rotundas, or Teres, a Mufcle which rifes flefhy, from the internal Extuberance of the Os Hu- meri, where thofe bending the Carpus and Fingers do a- rife; and firmly adhering to the Flexor Carpi Radialn,