The Prisoner of Zenda (51 page)

players
NOUN
actors
of players which upon the world's stage be
(
On His Mistress
by John Donne)

plump
ADV
all at once, suddenly
But it took a bit of time to get it well round, the change come so uncommon plump, didn't it? (Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens)

plundered
VERB
to plunder is to rob or steal from
These crosses stand for the names of ships or towns that they sank or plundered
(
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson)

pommel
VERB
to pommel someone is to hit them repeatedly with your fists
hug him round the neck, pommel his back, and kick his legs in irrepressible affection!
(
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens)
NOUN
a pommel is the part of a saddle that rises up at the front
He had his gun across his pommel
(
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain)

poor's rates
NOUN
poor's rates were property taxes which were used to support the poor
“Oh!” replied the undertaker; “why, you know, Mr. Bumble, I pay a good deal towards the poor's rates.”
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

popular
ADJ
popular means ruled by the people, or Republican, rather than ruled by a monarch
With those of Greece compared and popular Rome
(
The Prelude
by William Wordsworth)

porringer
NOUN
a porringer is a small bowl
Of this festive composition each boy had one porringer, and no more
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

postboy
NOUN
a postboy was the driver of a horse-drawn carriage
He spoke to a postboy who was dozing under the gateway
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

post-chaise
NOUN
a fast carriage for two or four passengers
Looking round, he saw that it was a post-chaise, driven at great speed
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

postern
NOUN
a small gate usually at the back of a building
The little servant happening to be entering the fortress with two hot rolls, I passed through the postern and crossed the drawbridge, in her company
(
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens)