Prowl, v. i. To rove or wander stealthily, esp. for prey, as a wild
beast; hence, to prey; to plunder.
Prowl, n. The act of prowling. [Colloq.] Smart.
Prowl"er (?), n. One that prowls. Thomson.
Prowl"ing, a. Accustomed to prowl, or engaged in roving stealthily, as
for prey. "A prowling wolf." Milton. -- Prowl"ing*ly, adv.
Prox (?), n. [Cf. Proxy.] "The ticket or list of candidates at
elections, presented to the people for their votes." [Rhode Island]
Bartlett.
Prox"ene (?), n. [Cf. &?;; &?; before + &?; a guest, stranger: cf. F.
proxËne.] (Gr. Antiq.) An officer who had the charge of showing
hospitality to those who came from a friendly city or state.
Prox"e*net (?), n. [L. proxeneta, Gr. &?;.] A negotiator; a factor.
[R.] Dr. H. More.
Prox"i*mad (?), adv. [Proximal + L. ad to.] (Anat.) Toward a proximal
part; on the proximal side of; proximally.
Prox"i*mal (?), a. 1. Toward or nearest, as to a body, or center of
motion of dependence; proximate.
2. (Biol.) (a) Situated near the point of attachment or origin; as, the
proximal part of a limb. (b) Of or pertaining to that which is
proximal; as, the proximal bones of a limb. Opposed to distal.
Prox"i*mal*ly, adv. (Anat.) On or toward a proximal part; proximad.
Prox"i*mate (?), a. [L. proximatus, p. p. of proximare to come near, to
approach, fr. proximus the nearest, nest, superl. of propior nearer,
and prope, adv., near.] Nearest; next immediately preceding or
following. "Proximate ancestors." J. S. Harford.
The proximate natural causes of it [the deluge].
T. Burnet.
Proximate analysis (Chem.), an analysis which determines the proximate
principles of any substance, as contrasted with an ultimate analysis.
-- Proximate cause. (a) A cause which immediately precedes and produces
the effect, as distinguished from the remote, mediate, or predisposing
cause. I. Watts. (b) That which in ordinary natural sequence produces a
specific result, no independent disturbing agencies intervening. --
Proximate principle (Physiol. Chem.), one of a class of bodies existing
ready formed in animal and vegetable tissues, and separable by chemical
analysis, as albumin, sugar, collagen, fat, etc.
Syn. -- Nearest; next; closest; immediate; direct.
Prox"i*mate*ly, adv. In a proximate manner, position, or degree;
immediately.
Prox"ime (?), a. [L. proximus. See Proximate.] Next; immediately
preceding or following. [Obs.]