a. [ L. procax, -acis, fr. procare to ask, demand. ] Pert; petulant; forward; saucy. [ R. ] Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. procacitas. ] Forwardness; pertness; petulance. [ R. ] Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Pro-, and Cambium. ] (Bot.) The young tissue of a fibrovascular bundle before its component cells have begun to be differentiated. Sachs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; beginning beforehand. fr. &unr_; to begin first; &unr_; before + &unr_; to begin; &unr_; intens. + &unr_; to begin: cf. F. procatarctique. ] (Med.) Beginning; predisposing; exciting; initial. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The words procatarctic causes have been used with different significations. Thus they have been employed synonymously with prime causes, exciting causes, and predisposing or remote causes. [ 1913 Webster ]

The physician inquires into the procatarctic causes. Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; first beginning. ] (Med.) The kindling of a disease into action; also, the procatarctic cause. Quincy. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Abl. of the gerundive of L. procedere. see Proceed. ] (Law) (a) A writ by which a cause which has been removed on insufficient grounds from an inferior to a superior court by certiorari, or otherwise, is sent down again to the same court, to be proceeded in there. (b) In English practice, a writ issuing out of chancery in cases where the judges of subordinate courts delay giving judgment, commanding them to proceed to judgment. (c) A writ by which the commission of the justice of the peace is revived, after having been suspended. Tomlins. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. procédure. See Proceed. ] 1. The act or manner of proceeding or moving forward; progress; process; operation; conduct. “The true procedure of conscience.” South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A step taken; an act performed; a proceeding; the steps taken in an action or other legal proceeding. “Gracious procedures.” I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which results; issue; product. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Proceeds. [ Obs. ] Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Proceeded; p. pr. & vb. n. Proceeding. ] [ F. procéder. fr. L. procedere, processum, to go before, to proceed; pro forward + cedere to move. See Cede. ] 1. To move, pass, or go forward or onward; to advance; to continue or renew motion begun; as, to proceed on a journey. [ 1913 Webster ]

If thou proceed in this thy insolence. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To pass from one point, topic, or stage, to another; as, to proceed with a story or argument. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To issue or come forth as from a source or origin; to come from; as, light proceeds from the sun. [ 1913 Webster ]

I proceeded forth and came from God. John viii. 42. [ 1913 Webster ]

It proceeds from policy, not love. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To go on in an orderly or regulated manner; to begin and carry on a series of acts or measures; to act by method; to prosecute a design. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that proceeds upon other principles in his inquiry. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To be transacted; to take place; to occur. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He will, after his sour fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded worthy note to-day. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To have application or effect; to operate. [ 1913 Webster ]

This rule only proceeds and takes place when a person can not of common law condemn another by his sentence. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Law) To begin and carry on a legal process. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To advance; go on; continue; progress; issue; arise; emanate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who proceeds. [ 1913 Webster ]