Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Potsherd Prick

Potsherd, pot′shėrd, n. a piece of a broken pot—(obs.) ', '. [Pot and A.S. sceard, a shred—sceran, to divide.]

Pottage, pot′āj, n. anything cooked in a pot: a thick soup of meat and vegetables: oatmeal porridge.—n. , a pottage-maker. [Fr. potage—pot.]

Potter, pot′ėr, n. one who makes earthenware.—n. , earthenware vessels: a place where earthenware is manufactured: the business of a potter.—Potter's clay, clay used in the making of earthenware; Potter's field, a burial-place for strangers (Matt. xxvii. 7); Potter's wheel, a horizontal wheel on which clay vessels are shaped.

Potter, pot′ėr, v.i. to be fussily engaged about trifles: to loiter.—n. . [Prov. pote, to push.]

Potting, pot′ing, n. placing in a pot, as plants: preserving in a pot, as meats.

Pottle, pot′l, n. a little pot: a measure of four pints: a small basket for fruit.—adjs. ', having a body shaped like a pottle; ', to the bottom of the tankard.—n.  (Shak.), a drinking-vessel holding two quarts. [Pot.]

Pot-waller, pot′-wol′ėr, Pot-walloper, n. a pot-boiler: a voter in certain English boroughs where, before the Reform Bill of 1832, every one who boiled a pot—i.e. every male householder or lodger, was entitled to vote—also '.—adj. '. [Lit., 'pot-boiler,' the latter part of the word being from an Old Low Ger. wallen, to boil.]

Pouch, powch, n. a poke, pocket, or bag: the bag or sac of an animal.—v.t. to put into a pouch: to pocket, submit to.—adj. Pouched, having a pouch.—Pouched mouse, a genus of small, lean, long-tailed, agile rodents, with cheek-pouches; Pouched rat, a genus of plump, short-tailed rodents, with cheek-pouches which open externally. [O. Fr. poche; cf. Poke, a bag.]

Pouchong, pōō-shong′, n. a superior black tea.

Poudrette, pōō-dret′, n. manure of dried night-soil, charcoal, &c. [Fr.]

Pouffe, pōōf, n. in dressmaking, material gathered up into a kind of knot: a cushion stuffed so as to be very soft.—n. Pouf, plaited gauze attached to a head-dress, as in 18th century. [Fr.]

Poulaine, pōō-lān′, n. a long, pointed shoe. [O. Fr.]

Pouldred, powl′drd, adj. (Spens.) powdered.

Poulp, Poulpe, pōōlp, n. the octopus. [Fr.—L. polypus.]

Poult, pōlt, n. a little hen or fowl: a chicken.—ns. ' (Shak.), ', one who deals in fowls; ', a club-foot.—adj. ' (arch.), club-footed.—ns. ', domestic fowls; ', a yard where poultry are confined and bred. [Fr. poulet, dim. of poule, fowl—L. pullus, the young of any animal.]

Poultice, pōl′tis, n. a soft composition of meal, bran, &c. applied to sores.—v.t. to put a poultice upon. [L. pultes, pl. of puls, pultis (Gr. poltos), porridge.]

Pounce, powns, v.i. to fall (upon) and seize with the claws: to dart suddenly (upon).—v.t. to ornament with small holes: to strike with the claws.—n. a hawk's claw: the paw of a lion or other animal.—adj. Pounced, furnished with talons. [Orig. to pierce, to stamp holes in for ornament; through Romance forms, from L. pungĕre, punctum.]

Pounce, powns, n. a fine powder for preparing a surface for writing on: coloured powder sprinkled over holes pricked in paper to form a pattern on paper underneath.—v.t. to sprinkle with pounce, as paper or a pattern.—ns. ', ', a box with a perforated lid for sprinkling pounce. [Fr. ponce, pumice—L. pumex, pumicis, pumice-stone.]

Pound, pownd, n. long the unit of weight in the western and central states of Europe, differing, however, in value in all of them—a weight of 16 oz. avoirdupois for general goods, the troy-pound of 12 oz. being for bullion (the troy lb. is defined as 5760 grains, of which the lb. avoirdupois contains 7000): the pound sterling, a money of account: a sovereign or 20s., also represented in Scotland by a note (the Pound Scots is 1 &frasl; 12 th of the pound sterling, or 1s. 8d.—of its twenty shillings each is worth an English penny): (Spens.) a balance.—v.t. (slang) to wager a pound on.—ns. ', a charge or tax made on each pound; ', a name sometimes used for the absolute foot pound second unit of force, which will produce in one pound a velocity of one foot per second, after acting for one second; ', a sweet cake whose ingredients are measured by weight; ', he who has, or that which weighs, many pounds—used only after a number, as a 12-pounder.—adj. , neglecting the care of large sums in attending to little ones. [A.S. pund—L. pondo, by weight, pondus, a weight—pendĕre, to weigh.]

Pound, pownd, v.t. to shut up or confine, as strayed animals.—n. an enclosure in which strayed animals are confined: a level part of a canal between two locks: a pound-net.—ns. ', a charge made for pounding stray cattle; '; , a kind of weir in fishing, forming a trap by an arrangement of nets (the wings, leader, and pocket, bowl, or pound). [A.S. pund, enclosure.]

Pound, pownd, v.t. to beat into fine pieces: to bruise: to bray with a pestle.—v.i. to walk with heavy steps.—n. . [M. E. pounen—A.S. punian, to beat; -d excrescent.]

Pour, pōr, v.t. to cause to flow or fall in streams or drops: to throw with force: to send forth in great quantity: to give vent to: to utter.—v.i. to flow: to issue forth: to rush.—n. . [Celt., as W. bwrw, to throw, Gael. purr, to push.]

Pourboire, pōōr-bwor′, n. drink-money: a bribe. [Fr. pour, for, boire, to drink.]

Pourparler, pōōr-pär′lā, n. a conference to arrange for some important transaction, as the formation of a treaty. [Fr. pour=L. pro, before, parler, to speak.]

Pourpoint, pōōr′point, n. a close-fitting men's quilted garment worn in the 14th century.

Pourtrahed, pōōr-trād′, adj. (Spens.) portrayed or drawn.

Pourtray. Same as Portray.

Pousse, pows, n. (Spens.) pulse, pease. [Pulse or pease.]

Pousse-café, pōōs′-ka-fā′, n. a cordial served after coffee.

Poussette, pōōs-set′, v.t. (Tenn.) to waltz round each other, as two couples in a contra-dance. [Fr. poussette, pouser, to push.]

Pout, powt, v.i. to push out the lips, in contempt or displeasure: to look sulky: to push out or be prominent.—n. a fit of sulkiness or ill-humour.—ns. ', one who pouts: a variety of pigeon, having its breast inflated; ', childish sullenness.—adv. , in a pouting or sullen manner. [Ety. dub.; cf. prov. Fr. pot, pout, lip, Fr. bouder, to pout; W. pwdu, pout.]

Poverty, pov′ėr-ti, n. the state of being poor: necessity: want: meanness: defect.—adjs. ', ', reduced to a state of poverty: in great suffering from poverty. [O. Fr. poverte (Fr. pauvreté)—L. paupertas, -tatis—pauper, poor.]

Powan, pow′an, n. (Scot.) the pollan, vendace, or Coregonus.

Powder, pow′dėr, n. dust: any substance in fine particles: gunpowder, a mixture of charcoal, sulphur, and saltpetre: hair-powder.—v.t. to reduce to powder: to sprinkle with powder: to salt by sprinkling.—v.i. to crumble into powder: to use powder for the hair.—n. ', a box for toilet-powder, &c.—adj. ', reduced to powder: sprinkled with powder: salted.—ns. ', ', a flask or horn for carrying powder, fitted with a means of measuring the amount of each charge; ', a loose dressing-gown worn while the hair was being powdered; ', a vessel in which meat is salted: a vessel in which venereal disease is treated by sweating; ', a strongly built place where powder is stored; ', a mill in which gunpowder is made; ', an excavation filled with gunpowder for blasting rocks, &c.; ', a boy formerly employed to carry powder to the gunners on board a ship-of-war; ', the room in a ship where powder is kept.—adj. ', resembling or sprinkled with powder: dusty: friable. [O. Fr. poudre—L. pulvis, pulveris, dust.]

Power, pow′ėr, n. that in a person or a thing which enables them to act on other persons or things: strength: energy: faculty of the mind: any agency: moving force of anything: right to command: rule: authority: influence: ability: capacity of suffering: a ruler: a divinity: the result of the continued multiplication of a quantity by itself any given number of times: (optics) magnifying strength: (obs.) a great many.—adjs. ', having power; ', having great power: mighty: intense: forcible: efficacious.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', a house where mechanical power (esp. electric) is generated.—adj. ', without power: weak: impotent.—adv. '.—ns. '; , a loom worked by some mechanical power, as water, steam, &c.—Power of attorney (see Attorney); Power of sale, a clause in securities and wills empowering property referred to to be sold on certain conditions; Powers, or Great Powers (see Great).—Absolute power, power subject to no control by law; Civil power, power of governing a state; Mechanical powers (see Mechanical). [O. Fr. poer (Fr. pouvoir)—Low L. pot-ĕre, to be able.]

Powsowdy, pow-sow′di, n. (Scot.) any mixture of heterogeneous kinds of food.—Also .

Powter, pow′tėr, n. a pigeon, the pouter.

Powwow, pow′wow, n. a Red Indian conjurer: a dance, feast, &c. before an expedition: any rowdy meeting.—v.i. to hold such a meeting: to deliberate: to perform conjurations.—Also .

Pox, poks, n. pustules: an eruptive disease. [Written for pocks, pl. of pock.]

Poynant, poin′ant, adj. (Spens.). Same as Poignant.

Pozzuolana. See Puzzolana.

Practice, prak′tis, n. the habit of doing anything: frequent use: state of being used: regular exercise for instruction: performance: method: medical treatment: exercise of any profession: a rule or method in arithmetic.—ns. ', ', quality of being practicable.—adj. ', that may be practised, used, or followed: passable, as a road.—adv. '.—adj. ', that can be put in practice: useful: applying knowledge to some useful end: derived from practice.—ns. '; ', a trick of an annoying kind played on any one; ', knowledge which results in action.—adv. ', in a practical way: actually: by actual trial.—n. '. [M. E. praktike—O. Fr. practique—Gr. praktikos, fit for doing—prassein, to do.]

Practick, Practic, prak′tik, adj. (Spens., Shak.) skilful, hence treacherous, deceitful.

Practise, prak′tis, v.t. to put into practice or to do habitually: to perform: to exercise, as a profession: to use or exercise: to teach by practice: to commit.—v.i. to have or to form a habit: to exercise any employment or profession: to try artifices.—n. ' (Shak.), an agent.—adj. ', skilled through practice.—n. '.—adj. ', actively engaged in professional employment. [From practice.]

Practitioner, prak-tish′un-ėr, n. one who practises or is engaged in the exercise of any profession, esp. medicine or law.—General practitioner, one who practises in all the branches of medicine and surgery. [Older form practician—O. Fr. practicien.]

Practive, prak′tiv, adj. directly tending towards action.

Prad, prad, n. a horse in thieves' cant.

Præ-. See Pre-.

Præmunire, Premunire, prē-mū-nī′re, n. the offence of disregard or contempt of the king and his government, especially the offence of introducing papal or other foreign authority into England: the writ founded on such an offence: the penalty incurred by the offence. [A corr. of L. præmonēre, to cite.]

Prænomen, prē-nō′men, n. the name prefixed to the family name in ancient Rome, as Caius in Caius Julius Cæsar: the generic name in zoology put before the specific name.

Prætexta, prē-teks′ta, n. the outer garment, bordered with purple, worn at Rome by the higher magistrates and by free-born children till they assumed the toga virilis. [L., prætexĕre, to fringe.]

Prætor, Pretor, prē′tor, n. a magistrate of ancient Rome, next in rank to the consuls.—adjs. ', ', ', ', pertaining to a prætor or magistrate: authorised or exercised by the prætor: judicial.—ns. ', ', the official residence of the Roman prætor, proconsul, or governor in a province: the general's tent in a camp: the council of officers who attended the general and met in his tent; .—Prætorian band of guard, the bodyguard of the Roman Emperor; Prætorian gate, the gate of a Roman camp directly in front of the general's tent, and nearest to the enemy. [L. prætor, for præitor—præ, before, īre, itum, to go.]

Pragmatic, -al, prag-mat′ik, -al, adj. of or pertaining to public business: skilled in affairs: active: practical: interfering with the affairs of others: officious: meddlesome: self-important.—n. ', a man of business, a busybody: a public decree.—adv. '.—ns. ', ', activity: earnestness: meddlesomeness; '.—Pragmatic method, a method of treating events with reference to their causes, conditions, and results—also called '; Pragmatic sanction, a special decree issued by a sovereign, such as that passed by the Emperor Charles VI. of Germany, securing the crown to Maria Theresa, and which led to the war so called in 1741. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. pragmatikos—pragma—pragmatos, deed—prassein, to do.]

Prairie, prā′ri, n. an extensive meadow or tract of land, level or rolling, without trees, and covered with tall coarse grass.—adj. '.—ns. ', a small gregarious North American marmot; ', the American sparrow-hawk; ', a gallinaceous North American bird: the sharp-tailed grouse; ', an American warbler, yellow with black spots; ', the coyote. [Fr.,—Low L. prataria, meadow-land—L. pratum, a meadow.]

Praise, prāz, n. the expression of the honour or value in which any person or thing is held: commendation on account of excellence or beauty: tribute of gratitude: a glorifying, as of God in worship: reason or ground of praise.—v.t. to express estimation of: to commend: to honour: to glorify, as in worship.—n. ', one who praises.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. ', worthy of praise: commendable. [O. Fr. preis (Fr. prix)—L. pretium, price.]

Prâkrit, prä′krit, n. the collective name of those languages or dialects which are immediately derived from, or stand in an immediate relation to, Sanskrit.—adj. . [Sans. prākrita, the natural—prakriti, nature.]

Pram, präm, n. a flat-bottomed Dutch lighter: a barge fitted as a floating battery. [Dut. praam.]

Pram, pram, n. a vulgar abbrev. of perambulator.

Prance, prans, v.i. to strut about in a showy or warlike manner: to ride showily: to bound gaily, as a horse.—adj. ', riding showily: springing or bounding gaily.—n. the action of a horse in rearing, bounding, &c.—adv. '. [Prank.]

Prandial, pran′di-al, adj. relating to dinner. [L. prandium, breakfast.]

Prank, prangk, v.t. to display or adorn showily: to put in right order.—v.i. to make great show.—n. a sportive action: a mischievous trick.—n. '.—adv. '.—adjs. ', '. [Closely akin to prink, a form of prick.]

Prase, prāz, n. a leek-green quartz.—adjs. ', ', lightish-green.

Prate, prāt, v.i. to talk idly: to tattle: to be loquacious.—v.t. to speak without meaning or purpose: to let out, as a secret.—n. trifling talk.—n. ', one who prates or talks idly.—adj. ', talking idly or unmeaningly.—n. idle talk.—adv. . [Low Ger. prāten, Dan. prate, Dut. praaten.]

Pratique, prat′ēk, n. converse, intercourse: a license or permission to hold intercourse, or to trade after quarantine. [Fr.]

Prattle, prat′l, v.i. to talk much and idly: to utter child's talk.—v.t. to talk about in a prattling way.—n. empty talk.—ns. ', a prattler; ', prattle; , one who prattles: a child. [Freq. of prate.]

Pravity, prav′i-ti, n. wickedness.

Prawn, prawn, n. a small edible crustacean like the shrimp. [L. perna, a mussel.]

Praxis, praks′is, n. practice: an example or a collection of examples for exercise: a specimen.—n. , an optical instrument showing a body as if in motion, by means of successive pictures and an arrangement of mirrors in a horizontally rotating box. [Gr. praxein, to do.]

Pray, prā, v.i. to ask earnestly: to entreat: to speak and make known one's desires to God.—v.t. to ask earnestly and reverently, as in worship: to supplicate: to get by praying:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. prāyed.—ns. ', the act of praying: entreaty: the words used: solemn giving of thanks and praise to God, and a making known of our requests to Him: a form of prayer used in worship: a petition to a public body; ', a book containing prayers or forms of devotion.—adj. ', full of, or given to, prayer: praying much or often: devotional.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. ', without or not using prayer.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', a shorter and simpler form of public religious service, in which laymen often take part; ', one who prays mechanically; ', a small carpet on which a Moslem kneels at prayer; ', the act of making a prayer: a prayer made.—adj. given to prayer.—ns. ', ', , a revolving apparatus used for prayer in Tibet and elsewhere. [O. Fr. preier (Fr. prier)—L. precāri—prex, precis, a prayer.]

Pre-, prē, before, in compound words like preanal, preauditory, preaxial, prebasal, prebrachial, precardiac, precentral, precerebral, precloacal, precordial, precoracoid, predentate, pre-esophageal, &c.

Preace, prēs, n. (Spens.). Same as Prease.

Preach, prēch, v.i. to pronounce a public discourse on sacred subjects: to discourse earnestly: to give advice in an offensive or obtrusive manner.—v.t. to publish in religious discourses: to deliver, as a sermon: to teach publicly.—n. (coll.) a sermon.—ns. ', one who discourses publicly on religious matter: a minister or clergyman; '.—v.i. ', to preach tediously: to weary with lengthy advice.—ns. ', the act of preaching: a public religious discourse: a sermon; ', a cross in an open place at which monks, &c., preached.—n.pl. ', the Dominicans.—n. ', a sermon, in contempt: a discourse affectedly solemn.—adj. ', given to tedious moralising.—Preach down, and up, to decry, or the opposite. [Fr. prêcher (It. predicare)—L. prædicāre, -ātum, to proclaim.]

Preacquaint, prē-ak-kwānt′, v.t. to acquaint beforehand.—n. , previous knowledge.

Pre-Adamite, prē-ad′a-mīt, n. one who lived before Adam.—adjs. ', '; ', '.

Preadaptation, prē-ad-ap-tā′shun, n. previous adjustment of means to some end.

Preadjustment, prē-ad-just′ment, n. previous arrangement.

Preadmission, prē-ad-mish′un, n. previous admission.

Preadmonish, prē-ad-mon′ish, v.t. to admonish or caution beforehand.—n. , previous warning.

Preadvertise, prē-ad-vėr-tīz′, v.t. to announce beforehand.

Preamble, prē-am′bl, n. preface: introduction, esp. that of an Act of Parliament, giving its reasons and purpose.—adj. . [Fr. préambule—L. præ, before, ambulāre, to go.]

Preannounce, prē-an-nowns′, v.t. to announce beforehand.

Preappoint, prē-ap-point′, v.t. to appoint beforehand.—n. , previous appointment.

Prearrange, prē-ar-rānj′, v.t. to arrange beforehand.—n. .

Prease, prēs, v.t. or v.i. (Spens.) to press, to crowd.—n. (Spens.) a press, a crowd.

Preassurance, prē-a-shōōr′ans, n. previous assurance.

Pre-audience, prē-aw′di-ens, n. right to be heard before another: precedence at the bar among lawyers.

Prebend, preb′end, n. the share of the revenues of a cathedral or collegiate church allowed to a clergyman who officiates in it at stated times.—adj. ', relating to a prebend.—ns. ', a resident clergyman who enjoys a prebend, a canon: the honorary holder of a disendowed prebendal stall; . [L. præbenda, a payment from a public source—præbēre, to allow.]

Precarious, prē-kā′ri-us, adj. uncertain, because depending upon the will of another: held by a doubtful tenure: depending on chance: dangerous, risky.—adv. '.—n. '. [L. precarius—precāri, to pray.]

Precatory, prek′a-tō-ri, adj. relating to prayer, supplicatory.—adj.  (obs.), suppliant.

Precaution, prē-kaw′shun, n. caution or care beforehand: a preventive measure: something done beforehand to ward off evil or secure good.—v.t. to warn or advise beforehand.—adjs. ', ', containing or proceeding from precaution: taking precaution. [Fr.,—L. præ, before, cavēre, to be careful.]

Precede, pre-sēd′, v.t. to go before in time, rank, or importance.—v.i. to be before in time, or place. [Fr. précéder—L. præcedĕre—præ, before, cedĕre, go.]

Precedence, prē-sē′dens, n. the act of going before in time: priority: the state of being before in rank: the place of honour: the foremost place in ceremony—also '.—adj. ', going before in order of time: anterior.—n. Precedent a past action which may serve as an example or rule in the future: a parallel case in the past: an established habit or custom.—adjs. ', having a precedent: warranted by an example; ', of the nature of a precedent.—adv. '.—adj. ', going before in time, rank, &c.: antecedent: previous: former.—Order of precedence, the rules which fix the places of persons at a ceremony; Patent of precedence, a royal grant giving to certain barristers right of superior rank; Take precedence of, to have a right to a more honourable place. [Fr.,—L. præcedens, -entis, pr.p. of præcedĕre, to go before.]

Precentor, pre-sen′tor, n. he that leads in music: the leader of a choir in a cathedral, &c.: the leader of the psalmody in Scotch churches.—n. . [L. præ, before, cantor, a singer.]

Precept, prē′sept, n. rule of action: a commandment: principle, or maxim: (law) the written warrant of a magistrate: a mandate.—adj. ' (Shak.), consisting of precepts.—n. ' (obs.), a precept.—adj. ', containing or giving precepts: directing in moral conduct: didactic.—n. ', one who delivers precepts: a teacher: an instructor: the head of a school: the head of a preceptory of Knights Templars:—fem. '.—adjs. '; , giving precepts.—n. a religious house or college of the Knights Templars. [Fr.,—L. præceptum—præcipĕre, to take beforehand—præ, before, capĕre, to take.]

Preces, prē′sez, n.pl. the alternate responsive petitions, as the versicles and suffrages, between the clergyman and the congregation in liturgical worship. [L., pl. of prex, a prayer.]

Precession, prē-sesh′un, n. the act of going before: a moving forward.—adj. .—Precession of the equinoxes, a slow backward motion of the equinoctial points along the ecliptic, caused by the greater attraction of the sun and moon on the excess of matter at the equator, such that the times at which the sun crosses the equator come at shorter intervals than they would otherwise do.

Prechristian, prē-krist′yan, adj. existing before the Christian era.

Precinct, prē′singkt, n. limit or boundary of a place: a district or division within certain boundaries: limit of jurisdiction or authority. [L. præcinctus, pa.p. of præcingĕre—præ, before, cingĕre, to gird.]

Precious, presh′us, adj. of great price or worth: costly: highly esteemed: worthless, contemptible (in irony): fastidious, overnice: (coll.) considerable: (B.) valuable because rare.—adv. (coll.) extremely.—n. ', fastidiousness, affected overrefinement.—adv. '.—ns. ', a metal of great value, as gold or silver; '; , a stone of value and beauty for ornamentation: a gem or jewel. [O. Fr. precios (Fr. précieux)—L. pretiosus—pretium, price.]

Precipice, pres′i-pis, n. a very steep place: any steep descent: a perpendicular bank or cliff.—adj. ', like a precipice: very steep: hasty: rash.—adv. '.—n. . [Fr.,—L. præcipitium—præceps, præcipitis, headlong—præ, before, caput, capitis, the head.]

Precipitate, prē-sip′i-tāt, v.t. to throw head-foremost: to urge with eagerness: to hurry rashly: to hasten: (chem.) to cause to fall to the bottom, as a substance in solution or suspension.—v.i. to fall headlong: to make too great haste.—adj. falling, flowing, or rushing headlong: lacking deliberation: overhasty: (med.) ending soon in death.—n. (chem.) a part of a solution, falling or causing to fall to the bottom.—n. '.—adj. ' (chem.), that may be precipitated.—ns. ', ', quality of being precipitate: haste in resolving or executing a purpose.—adj. ', falling headlong: rushing down with too great velocity: hasty: unexpectedly brought on.—n. anything that causes part of a solution to fall to the bottom.—advs. '; ', in a precipitate manner: headlong: without due thought.—n. ', act of precipitating: great hurry: rash haste: rapid movement: (chem.) the process by which any substance is made to separate from another in solution, and fall to the bottom.—adj. '.—n. ', one who, or that which, precipitates or causes precipitation.—Precipitate ointment is of two kinds, red and white—the former containing red oxide of mercury, the latter ammoniated mercury. [L. præcipitāre, -ātum—præceps.]

Précis, prā-sē′, n. a precise or abridged statement: an abstract: summary. [Fr.]

Precise, prē-sīs′, adj. definite: exact: not vague: just of the right amount or measure: adhering too much to rule: excessively nice, punctilious, prim.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', an over-precise person: a formalist: a puritan; '; ', ', a precisian; ', quality of being precise: exactness: accuracy.—v.t. ', to make precise.—adj. , cutting off: pertaining to precision. [Fr. précis—L. præcisus, pa.p. of præcidĕre—præ, before, cædĕre, to cut.]

Preclassical, prē-klas′i-kal, adj. previous to the classical time or usage.

Preclude, prē-klud′, v.t. to shut out beforehand: to hinder by anticipation: to keep back: to prevent from taking place.—n. ', act of precluding or hindering: state of being precluded.—adj. ', tending to preclude: hindering beforehand.—adv. . [L. præcludĕre, -clusum—præ, before, claudĕre, to shut.]

Precocious, prē-kō′shus, adj. having the mind developed very early, or too early: premature: forward: (bot.) appearing before the leaves.—adv. '.—ns. ', , state or quality of being precocious: too early ripeness of the mind. [L. præcox, præcocis—præ, before, coquĕre, to cook.]

Precognition, prē-kog-nish′un, n. cognition, knowledge, or examination beforehand: (Scots law) an examination of witnesses as to whether there is ground for prosecution.—v.t. Precognosce to examine witnesses beforehand: to take a precognition.

Precompose, prē-kom-pōz′, v.t. to compose beforehand.

Preconceive, prē-kon-sēv′, v.t. to conceive or form a notion of before having actual knowledge.—ns. ', a preconceived notion; ', act of preconceiving: previous opinion formed without actual knowledge.

Preconcert, prē-kon-sėrt′, v.t. to settle beforehand.—n. ', a previous arrangement.—adv. '.—n. .

Precondemn, prē-kon-dem′, v.t. to condemn beforehand.—n. .

Precondition, prē-kon-dish′un, n. a previous condition.

Preconform, prē-kon-form′, v.t. and v.i. to conform in anticipation.—n. .

Preconise, prē′kon-īz, v.t. to call upon or summon publicly: to confirm officially, of the pope.—n. . [Fr.,—L. præco, a herald.]

Preconscious, prē-kon′shus, adj. pertaining to a state prior to consciousness.

Preconsent, prē-kon-sent′, n. a previous consent.

Preconsign, prē-kon-sīn′, v.t. to consign beforehand.

Preconstitute, prē-kon′sti-tūt, v.t. to constitute beforehand.

Preconsume, prē-kon-sūm′, v.t. to consume beforehand.

Precontemporaneous, prē-kon-tem-pō-rā′nē-us, adj. prior to what is contemporaneous.

Precontract, prē-kon-trakt′, v.t. to contract beforehand: to betroth previously.—n. , a previous contract or betrothal.

Precontrive, prē-kon-trīv′, v.t. and v.i. to contrive beforehand.

Precordial, Præcordial, prē-kor′di-al, adj. situated in front of the heart.

Precourse, prē-kōrs′, v.t. to announce beforehand.

Precritical, prē-krit′i-kal, adj. previous to the critical philosophy of Kant.

Precular, prek′ū-lär, n. a beadsman.

Precurrent, prē-kur′ent, adj. running forward: antrorse—opp. to Recurrent.—ns. ' (Shak.), a forerunner; ' (Shak.), a prognostication.—adj. ', anticipatory.—n. ', a forerunner: one who, or that which, indicates the approach of an event.—adj. , forerunning: indicating something to follow. [L.,—præ, before, cursor—currĕre, to run.]

Predaceous, prē-dā′shus, adj. living by prey: predatory.—adj. ', raptorial.—n. ', a carnivorous animal.—adj. ', pertaining to prey: plundering.—n. ', the act of plundering.—adv. ', plunderingly.—n. ', inclination to plunder.—adj. , plundering: characterised by plundering: living by plunder: ravenous. [L. præda, booty.]

Predate, prē-dāt′, v.t. to date before the true date: to date by anticipation: to be earlier than.

Predecease, prē-dē-sēs′, n. decease or death before some one or something else.—v.t. to die before.

Predecessor, prē-dē-ses′or, n. one who has been before another in any office.—v.t. ' (rare), to precede.—adj. '. [L. præ, before, decessor, a retiring officer, decedĕre, decessum, to withdraw—de, away, cedĕre.]

Predeclare, prē-dē-klār′, v.t. to declare beforehand.

Predefine, prē-dē-fīn′, v.t. to define beforehand.—n. .

Predelineation, prē-dē-lin-ē-ā′shun, n. the old theory which supposed the whole body to be predelineated in little in the spermatozoon.

Predella, prē-del′a, n. the gradino, the step or ledge sometimes seen at the back of an altar, also the frieze along the bottom of an altar-piece. [It.]

Predesign, prē-dē-zīn′, v.t. to design beforehand.—v.t. ', to determine upon in advance.—adj. designated in advance: (logic) having the quantification of the predicate distinctly expressed (Sir W. Hamilton).—n. '.—adj. .

Predestine, prē-des′tin, v.t. to destine or decree beforehand: to foreordain.—adj. ', pertaining to predestination.—n. one who holds the doctrine of predestination.—n. '.—v.t. ', to determine beforehand: to preordain by an unchangeable purpose.—adj. fore-ordained: fated.—n. ', act of predestinating: (theol.) the doctrine that God has from all eternity unalterably fixed whatever is to happen, esp. the eternal happiness or misery of men.—n. , one who predestinates or foreordains: a predestinarian.

Predetermine, prē-dē-tėr′min, v.t. to determine or settle beforehand.—adjs. ', capable of being determined beforehand; ', determined beforehand.—ns. ', act of predetermining, or state of being predetermined; ', determinism.

Predevote, prē-dē-vōt′, adj. foreordained.

Predial, prē′di-al, adj. consisting of land or farms: connected with land: growing from land. [Fr. prédial—L. prædium, an estate.]

Predicable, pred′i-ka-bl, adj. that may be predicated or affirmed of something: attributable.—n. anything that can be predicated of another, or esp. of many others: one of the five attributes—genus, species, difference, property, and accident.—n. , quality of being predicable.

Predicament, prē-dik′a-ment, n. (logic) one of the classes or categories which include all predicables: condition: an unfortunate or trying position.—adj. . [Low L. predicamentum, something predicated or asserted.]

Predicant, pred′i-kant, adj. predicating: preaching.—n. one who affirms anything: a preacher, esp. a preaching-friar.

Predicate, pred′i-kāt, v.t. to affirm one thing of another: to assert: to base on certain grounds.—n. (logic and gram.) that which is stated of the subject.—n. ', act of predicating: assertion: affirmation.—adj. ', expressing predication or affirmation: affirming: asserting.—adv. '.—adj. ', affirmative. [L. prædicāre, -ātum, to proclaim.]

Predict, prē-dikt′, v.t. to declare or tell beforehand: to prophesy.—adj. '.—n. ', act of predicting: that which is predicted or foretold: prophecy.—adj. ', foretelling: prophetic.—n. '. [L. prædictus, pa.p. of prædicĕre—præ, before, dicĕre, to say.]

Predigest, prē-di-jest′, v.t. to digest artificially before introducing into the body.—n. .

Predilection, prē-di-lek′shun, n. a choosing beforehand: favourable prepossession of mind: partiality.—v.t. , to prefer. [L. præ, before, dilectio, -onis, choice—diligĕre, dilectum, to love—dis, apart, legĕre, to choose.]

Prediscover, prē-dis-kuv′ėr, v.t. to discover beforehand.—n. .

Predispose, prē-dis-pōz′, v.t. to dispose or incline beforehand: to render favourable.—adj. ', inclining beforehand: making liable.—n. ', state of being predisposed or previously inclined: a state of body in which disease is easily excited.—adj. .

Predominate, prē-dom′in-āt, v.t. to dominate or rule over.—v.i. to be dominant over: to surpass in strength or authority: to prevail.—ns. ', ', condition of being predominant: superior influence: superiority: ascendency.—adj. ', ruling: having superior power: ascendant.—adv. '.—n. , ascendency.—Predominant partner, the partner who has a larger stake in any business than the others—applied by Lord Rosebery (1894) to England as a member of the United Kingdom.

Predone, prē-dun′, adj. worn out, exhausted.

Predoom, prē-dōōm′, v.t. to doom in anticipation or beforehand.

Predorsal, prē-dor′sal, adj. situated before the dorsal region of the spine: cervical.

Predy, prē′di, adj. (naut.) cleared for action.

Pree, prē, v.t. (Scot.) to prove, esp. to taste.

Pre-elect, prē-e-lekt′, v.t. to elect or choose beforehand.—n. , choice or election made by previous decision.

Pre-eminence, prē-em′i-nens, n. state of being pre-eminent: superiority in excellence: (Shak.) prerogative.—adj. ', eminent above others: surpassing others in good or bad qualities: outstanding: extreme.—adv. '.

Pre-employ, prē-em-ploi′, v.t. to employ beforehand.

Pre-emption, prē-em′shun, n. act or right of purchasing before others.—v.t. ' (U.S.), to secure, as land, by the right of pre-emption.—adjs. '; '.—n. '. [L. præ, before, emptio, a buying—emĕre, to buy.]

Preen, prēn, v.t. to compose and arrange as birds do their feathers. [Prune (v.).]

Preen, prēn, n. (Scot.) a pin.—v.t. to fasten. [A.S. preón, a pin.]

Pre-engage, prē-en-gāj′, v.t. to establish beforehand.—n. .

Pre-establish, prē-es-tab′lish, v.t. to establish beforehand.—n. .—Pre-established harmony (see Harmony).

Preeve, prēv, n. and v.t. obs. form of proof and prove.

Pre-examination, prē-egz-am-i-nā′shun, n. previous examination.—v.t. .

Pre-exilic, prē-eg-zil′ik, adj. before the exile—of O.T. writings prior to the Jewish exile (c. 586-537 B.C.).

Pre-exist, prē-egz-ist′, v.i. to exist beforehand.—n. ', the existence of the soul in a previous state, before the generation of the body with which it is united in this world.—adj. ', existent or existing beforehand.

Preface, pref′ās, n. something usually of an explanatory kind, spoken before: the introduction to a book, &c.: the ascription of glory, &c., in the liturgy of consecration of the eucharist: a title or epithet.—v.t. to introduce with a preface.—adj. ', serving as a preface or introduction.—adv. '.—adj. , pertaining to a preface: serving as an introduction: introductory. [Fr. préface—L. præfatio—præ, before, fāri, fatus, to speak.]

Prefect, prē′fekt, n. one placed in authority over others: a commander: the administrative head of a modern French department.—ns. ', his office or jurisdiction; ', the office or district of a prefect: the house occupied by a prefect. [Fr. préfet—L. præfectus, pa.p. of præficĕre—præ, over, facĕre, to make.]

Prefer, prē-fėr′, v.t. to esteem above another: to regard or hold in higher estimation: to choose or select before others: to promote: to exalt: to offer or present, as a request: to bring forward for consideration: to place in advance:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. —ns. ', '.—adj. ', worthy to be preferred or chosen: more desirable or excellent: of better quality.—adv. ', by choice: in preference.—n. ', the act of preferring: estimation above another: the state of being preferred: that which is preferred: choice.—adj. Preferential  having a preference.—adv. '.—ns. ', the act of preferring: the state of being preferred or advanced: advancement to a higher position: promotion: superior place, esp. in the church; ', one who prefers.—Preference shares, or stock, shares or stock on which the dividends must be paid before those on other kinds. [Fr. préférer—L. præferre—præ, before, ferre, to bear.]

Prefigure, prē-fig′ūr, v.t. to represent beforehand: to suggest by former types or figures.—ns. ', '.—adj. , showing by previous figures, types, or similitudes.

Prefix, prē-fiks′, v.t. to put before, or at the beginning: to fix beforehand.—ns. ', a letter, syllable, or word put before another word to affect its meaning; ', act of prefixing.

Preform, prē-form′, v.t. (Shak.) to form beforehand: to determine the shape of beforehand.—n. '.—adj. '.

Prefrontal, prē-fron′tal, adj. pertaining to the forepart of the forehead.—n. a bone of this region.

Prefulgency, prē-ful′jen-si, n. superior brightness.

Preglacial, prē-glā′shal, adj. (geol.) prior to the glacial or drift period.

Pregnable, preg′na-bl, adj. that may be taken by assault or force. [Fr. prenable—prendre, to take—L. prehendĕre.]

Pregnant, preg′nant, adj. being with child or young: fruitful: abounding with results: full of meaning: implying more than is actually expressed: ready-witted: clever: ingenious: full of promise: free: evident: clear.—n. ', state of being pregnant: fertility: unusual capacity.—adv. '. [O. Fr.—L. prægnans, -antis.]

Prehallux, prē-hal′uks, n. a cartilaginous spur on the inner side of the foot in some batrachians.

Prehensile, prē-hen′sil, adj. seizing: adapted for seizing or holding—also '.—adj. ', that may be seized.—ns. ', act of seizing or taking hold; ', one who takes hold. [L. pre-hendĕre, -hensum, to seize.]

Prehistoric, prē-his-tor′ik, adj. relating to a time before that treated of in history.—n. , history prior to record—the Ger. Urgeschichte.

Prehnite, pren′īt, n. a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime, usually of a pale-green colour. [Named after Prehn, the discoverer of the mineral.]

Preignac, prā-nyak′, n. an esteemed white wine of Bordeaux. [From Preignac in the Gironde.]

Pre-instruct, prē-in-strukt′, v.t. to instruct beforehand.

Pre-intimation, prē-in-ti-mā′shun, n. an intimation or suggestion made beforehand.

Prejink, prē-jingk′, adj. (Scot.) tricked out with dress.—Also .

Prejudge, prē-juj′, v.t. to judge or decide upon before hearing the whole case: to condemn unheard.—n. '.—adj. Prejudical pertaining to the determination of some undecided matter.—v.t. Prejudicāte  to judge beforehand: to prejudge.—v.i. to decide without examination.—n. ' (-jōōd-).—adj. Prejudicātive  forming a judgment or opinion beforehand. [L. præjudicāre, -ātum—præ, before, judicāre, to judge.]

Prejudice, prej′ū-dis, n. a judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without due examination: a prejudgment: unreasonable prepossession for or against anything: bias: injury or wrong of any kind: disadvantage: mischief.—v.t. to fill with prejudice: to cause a prejudice against: to prepossess: to bias the mind of: to injure or hurt.—adj. ', causing prejudice or injury: disadvantageous: injurious: mischievous: tending to obstruct.—adv. '.—n. . [O. Fr.,—L. præjudicium—præ, before, judicium, judgment.]

Preknowledge, prē-nol′ej, n. prior knowledge.

Prelate, prel′āt, n. the holder of one of those higher dignities in the church to which, of their own right, is attached a proper jurisdiction, not derived by delegation from any superior official: a church dignitary.—ns. ', the office of a prelate: the order of bishops or the bishops collectively: church government by prelates: episcopacy; '.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to prelates or prelacy.—adv. '.—v.t. and v.i. ', to make or to become prelatical.—ns. ', ', prelacy: the time during which a prelate exercises authority; , an upholder of prelacy. [Fr. prélat—L. prelatus—præ, before, latus, borne.]

Prelect, prē-lekt′, v.i. to read before or in presence of others: to read a discourse: to lecture.—ns. ', a lecture or discourse read to others; ', one who prelects: a lecturer. [L. prælegĕre—præ, before, legĕre, lectum, to read.]

Prelibation, prē-lī-bā′shun, n. a tasting beforehand, foretaste. [L. prælibatio—præ, before, libāre, -ātum, to taste.]

Preliminary, prē-lim′in-ar-i, adj. introductory: preparatory: preceding or preparing for the main discourse or business.—n. that which precedes: introduction—used mostly in pl.—adv. . [L. præ, before, liminaris, relating to a threshold—limen, liminis, a threshold.]

Prelingual, prē-ling′gwal, adj. prior to language.

Prelude, prē-lūd′, or prel′ūd, n. the introductory movement of a musical work: a prefatory piece to an oratorio, &c.: an organ voluntary before a church service: a preface: a forerunner.—v.t. ', to play before: to preface, as an introduction.—v.i. to perform a prelude: to serve as a prelude.—adjs. ' and ' (rare); ', of the nature of a prelude: introductory.—advs. '; '.—adj. , introductory. [Fr.,—Late L. præludium—L. præ, before, ludĕre, to play.]

Premandibular, prē-man-dib′ū-lar, adj. in front of the lower jaw, as a bone of some reptiles.

Premature, prē-ma-tūr′, adj. mature before the proper time: happening before the proper time: too soon believed: unauthenticated (as a report).—adv. '.—ns. ', . [L. præmaturus—præ, before, maturus, ripe.]

Premaxillary, prē-mak′si-lā-ri, adj. in front of the maxilla.—n. such a bone.

Premeditate, prē-med′i-tāt, v.t. to meditate upon beforehand: to design previously.—v.i. to deliberate beforehand.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. . [L., præmeditāri, -ātus—præ, before, meditāri, to meditate.]

Premier, prē′mi-ėr, adj. prime or first: chief: (her.) most ancient.—n. the first or chief: the prime-minister.—v.i. to govern as premier.—adj. and n. Première first or leading actress, dancer, forewoman, &c.—n. . [Fr.,—L. primarius, of the first rank—primus, first.]

Premillennial, prē-mi-len′i-al, adj. of or pertaining to the times before the millennium—also '.—n. one who believes in the premillennial advent of Christ.—ns. '; .

Premise, Premiss, prem′is, n. that which is premised or stated at the outset: a proposition previously stated or proved for after-reasoning: (logic) one of the two propositions in a syllogism from which the conclusion is drawn: the thing set forth in the beginning of a deed.—n.pl. , a building and its adjuncts.

Premise, prē-mīz′, v.t. to send or state before the rest: to make an introduction: to lay down propositions for subsequent reasonings. [Fr.,—L. (sententia) præmissa, (a sentence) put before—præ, before, mittĕre, missum, to send.]

Premium, prē′mi-um, n. a reward: a prize: a bounty: payment made for insurance: the difference in value above the original price or par of stock—opp. to Discount: anything offered as an incentive.—adjs. ', '.—v.t. , to reward with a premium.—At a premium, above par (see Par). [L. præmium—præ, above, emĕre, to buy.]

Premolar, prē-mō′lar, adj. before a molar, in place or time, deciduous.—n. a milk-molar.

Premonish, prē-mon′ish, v.t. to admonish or warn beforehand.—n. ', a warning or sign (often a feeling) of what is going to happen.—adjs. ', ', giving warning or notice beforehand.—n. ', one who, or that which, gives warning beforehand.—adv. . [Pre-, before, monish, a corr. form through O. Fr., from L. monēre, to warn.]

Premonstrant, prē-mon′strant, n. a member of an order of regular canons founded by St Norbert, in 1119, at a place in the forest of Coucy (near Laon in the dep. of Aisne), pointed out in a vision, and thence called Prémontré (L. Pratum monstratum=the meadow pointed out)—called also Norbertines, and in England, from their habit, White Canons.—Also  (n. and adj.).

Premorse, prē-mors′, adj. ending abruptly, as if bitten off. [L. præmordēre, præmorsum, to bite in front.]

Premosaic, prē-mō-zā′ik, adj. before the time of Moses.

Premotion, prē-mō′shun, n. previous motion.

Prenasal, prē-nā′sal, adj. in front of the nasal passages.

Prenatal, prē-nā′tal, adj. previous to birth.

Prenominate, prē-nom′in-āt, p.adj. (Shak.) forenamed.

Prenotion, prē-nō′shun, n. preconception.

Prentice, pren′tis, n. Short for apprentice.

Preoccipital, prē-ok-sip′i-tal, adj. situated before the occipital region or lobe.

Preoccupy, prē-ok′ū-pī, v.t. to occupy or take possession of beforehand: to fill beforehand or with prejudices.—ns. ', the act or the right of occupying beforehand; ', a prior occupant.—v.t. ' (Bacon), to occupy before others.—n. '.—adj. , already occupied: lost in thought, abstracted.

Preoption, prē-op′shun, n. the right of first choice.

Preoral, prē-ō′ral, adj. situated in front of the mouth.—adv. .

Preordain, prē-or-dān′, v.t. to ordain, appoint, or determine beforehand.—n. .

Preorder, prē-or′dėr, v.t. to arrange beforehand.—n. , a rule previously established.

Prepaid, prē-pād′, adj. paid beforehand.

Preparation, prep-a-rā′shun, n. the act of preparing: previous arrangement: the state of being prepared or ready: that which is prepared or made ready: (anat.) a part of any animal body preserved as a specimen: the day before the Sabbath or other Jewish feast-day: devotional exercises introducing an office: (mus.) the previous introduction, as an integral part of a chord, of a note continued into a succeeding dissonance.—adj. ', having the power of preparing or making ready: fitting for anything.—n. that which prepares the way: preparation.—adv. ', by way of preparation.—adj. , preparing for something coming: previous: introductory. [Fr.,—L.]

Prepare, prē-pār′, v.t. to make ready beforehand: to fit for any purpose: to make ready for use: to adapt: to form: to set or appoint: to provide: to equip.—v.i. to get one's self ready: to put everything in proper order: to lead up to.—n. (Shak.) preparation.—adj. ', made ready, fit, or suitable: ready.—adv. '.—ns. '; '. [Fr.,—L. præparāre—præ, before, parāre, to make ready.]

Prepay, prē-pā′, v.t. to pay before or in advance.—n. .

Prepense, prē-pens′, adj. premeditated: intentional, chiefly in the phrase 'malice prepense'=malice aforethought or intentional—(obs.) '.—v.t. (Spens.) to consider or deliberate beforehand.—adv. ', intentionally. [Fr.,—L. præ, before, pensāre—pendĕre, pensum, to weigh.]

Prepollence, prē-pol′ens, n. prevalence—also '.—adj. '.

Preponderate, prē-pon′dėr-āt, v.t. to outweigh: to incline to one side: to exceed in power or influence.—ns. ', ', ', power or state of outweighing: excess of weight, number, or quantity: predominance.—adj. ', outweighing: superior in weight, power, or influence.—advs. ', '. [L. præ, before, ponderāre, -ātum, to weigh—pondus, a weight.]

Preposition, prep-ō-zish′un, n. a word placed before a noun or pronoun to show its relation to some other word of the sentence.—adj. '.—adv. '.—adj. , put before: prefixed.—n. a word or particle put before another word—opp. to Post-positive.—n. , a school-monitor. [Fr.,—L. præpositio—præ, before, ponĕre, positum, to place.]

Prepossess, prē-poz-zes′, v.t. to possess beforehand: to fill beforehand, as the mind with some opinion: to bias or prejudice.—adj. ', tending to prepossess in one's favour: making a favourable impression.—adv. '.—n. , previous possession: impression formed beforehand, usually a favourable one.

Preposterous, prē-pos′tėr-us, adj. contrary to nature or reason: wrong: absurd: foolish.—adv. '.—n. ', unreasonableness. [L. præposterus—præ, before, posterus, after—post, after.]

Prepotent, prē-pō′tent, adj. powerful in a very high degree: excelling others in influence or authority.—ns. ', '.—adj. .

Prepuce, prē′pūs, n. the loose skin of the penis covering the glans: the foreskin.—adj. . [L. præputium.]

Prepunctual, prē-pungk′tū-al, adj. excessively prompt.—n. .

Preraphaelitism, prē-raf′ā-el-ī-tizm, n. a style of painting begun in 1847-49 by D. G. Rossetti, W. Holman Hunt, J. E. Millais, and others in imitation of the painters who lived before Raphael (1483-1523), and characterised by a truthful, almost rigid, adherence to natural forms and effects—also '.—adj. ', pertaining to, or resembling, the style of art before the time of Raphael—also n.—adj. .

Preremote, prē-rē-mōt′, adj. more remote in previous time or order.

Prerequisite, prē-rek′wi-zit, n. something previously necessary: something needed in order to gain an end.—adj. required as a condition of something else.

Prerogative, prē-rog′a-tiv, n. a peculiar privilege shared by no other: a right arising out of one's rank, position, or nature.—adj. arising out of, or held by, prerogative.—v.t. to endow with a prerogative.—adj. ' (Shak.), having a prerogative or exclusive privilege.—adv. ', by prerogative or exclusive privilege.—Prerogative court, formerly a court having jurisdiction over testamentary matters.—Royal prerogative, the rights which a sovereign has by right of office, which are different in different countries. [Fr.,—L. prærogativus, that is asked before others for his opinion or vote—præ, before, rogāre, -ātum, to ask.]

Presage, prēs′āj, n. something that gives warning of a future event: a foreboding: a presentiment.—v.t. ', to forebode: to warn of something to come: to predict.—v.i. to have a presentiment of.—adj. '.—ns. ', the act of presaging: that which is presaged: prediction; '. [Fr. présage—L. præsagium—præsagīre—præ, before, sagīre, to perceive quickly.]

Presanctify, prē-sangk′ti-fī, v.t. to consecrate beforehand.

Presartorial, prē-sär-tō′ri-al, adj. before the age of tailoring. [L. sartor—sarcīre, to patch.]

Presbyopia, pres-bi-ō′pi-a, n. long-sightedness, together with diminished power of distinguishing things near, common in old age—also '.—n. ', one so affected.—adj. '.—n. ', one affected with presbyopia. [Gr. presbys, old, ōps, ōpos, the eye.]

Presbyter, prez′bi-tėr, n. an elder, a priest: a minister or priest in rank between a bishop and a deacon: a member of a presbytery.—adjs. ', ', , pertaining to, or consisting of, presbyters: pertaining to Presbytery or that form of church government in which all the clergy or presbyters are equal—opp. to Episcopacy.—n. ', the office of a presbyter: a presbytery.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', the form of church government by presbyters; '; ', a church court ranking between the Kirk-session and the Synod, consisting of the ministers and one elder, a layman, from each church within a certain district: that part of the church reserved for the officiating priests: (R.C.) a clergyman's house.—Reformed Presbyterian Church, a religious body in Scotland, called also Cameronians, who remained separate from the Church of Scotland and maintained the perpetual obligation of the Covenants—the greater part joined the Free Church in 1876; United Presbyterian Church, a religious body formed by the union of the Secession and Relief Churches in 1847—itself uniting with the Free Church in 1900. [L.,—Gr. presbyteros, comp. of presbys, old.]

Prescience, prē′shi-ens, n. knowledge of events beforehand: foresight.—adj. ', knowing things beforehand.—adv. '. [L. præsciens, pr.p. of præscīre—præ, before, scīre, to know.]

Prescientific, prē-sī-en-tif′ik, adj. before the scientific age, before knowledge was systematised.

Prescind, prē-sind′, v.t. to abstract from other facts or ideas.—v.i. to withdraw the attention (from).—adj. '.—n. '.

Prescribe, prē-skrīb′, v.t. to lay down as a rule or direction: to give as an order: to appoint: (med.) to give directions for, as a remedy: to render useless or invalid through lapse of time.—v.i. to lay down rules: to claim on account of long possession: to become of no force through time.—ns. '; ', something prescribed: direction: model prescribed; '.—adj. ', that may be prescribed.—n. ', act of prescribing or directing: (med.) a written direction for the preparation of a medicine: a recipe: (law) custom continued until it becomes a right or has the force of law.—adj. ', consisting in, or acquired by, custom or long-continued use: customary.—Prescriptive title, a title established by right of prescription. [L. præscribĕre, -scriptum—præ, before, scribĕre, to write.]

Presee, prē-sē′, v.t. to foresee.

Presence, prez′ens, n. state of being present—opp. of Absence: situation near or within sight, &c., companionship: approach face to face: nearness to the person of a superior: an assembly of great persons: mien: personal appearance: an apparition: calmness, readiness, as of mind: (Shak.) a presence-chamber.—ns. ', ', the chamber or room in which a great personage receives company.—adj. , being in a certain place—opp. to Absent: now under view or consideration: being at this time: not past or future: ready at hand: attentive: not absent-minded: (gram.) denoting time just now, or making a general statement.—n. present time or business: (pl.) the writing of a letter, or a deed of any kind as actually shown at any time: any deed or writing.—adj. ', having or implying actual presence.—n. '.—adv. '.—n. ', state of being present.—Presence of mind, a state of mind which enables a person to speak or act with calmness and promptness in circumstances of great and sudden difficulties.—At present, at the present time, now; Real presence, a doctrine or belief that the body and blood of Christ are really and substantially present in the eucharist; The present, the present time. [O. Fr.,—L. præsentia—præsens, -sentis—præ, before, sens, being.]

Present, prē-zent′, v.t. to set before, to introduce into the presence of: to exhibit to view: to offer as a gift: to put into the possession of another: to make a gift of: to appoint to a benefice: to lay before for consideration: to point, as a gun before firing.—n. ', that which is presented or given, a gift.—adj. ', fit to be presented: capable of being presented to a church living.—n. ', act of presenting: a setting forth, as of a truth: representation: the act or the right of presenting to a benefice: the appearance of a particular part of the fetus at the superior pelvic strait during labour.—adj. ', having the right of presentation: pertaining to immediate cognition.—ns. ', one who is presented to a benefice; '.—adj. ', presentative, non-symbolic (of words).—n. '.—adv. ', after a little, by-and-by, shortly: (arch.) without delay, at once.—n. ', act of presenting: the thing presented or represented: (law) notice taken of an offence by a grand-jury from their own knowledge or observation: accusation presented to a court by a grand-jury.—Present arms, to bring the gun or rifle to a perpendicular position in front of the body, as a token of respect to a superior officer. [Fr.,—L. præsentāre—præsens.]

Presentient, prē-sen′shi-ent, adj. perceiving beforehand.—n. .

Presentiment, prē-sen′ti-ment, n. a sentiment or feeling beforehand: previous opinion: an impression as of something unpleasant soon to happen. [O. Fr.,—L. præsentīre.]

Presentoir, prez-en-twor′, n. a tray or salver: a Japanese lacquered stand for a bowl. [Fr.]

Preserve, prē-zėrv′, v.t. to keep safe from harm or injury: to defend: to keep in a sound state: to season for preservation: to make lasting: to keep up, as appearances.—n. that which is preserved, as fruit, &c.: that which preserves: a place for the protection of animals, as game: (pl.) spectacles to protect the eyes from strong light, &c.—n. '.—adj. '.—n. ', act of preserving or keeping safe: state of being preserved: safety.—adjs. ', ', tending to preserve: having the quality of preserving.—n. that which preserves: a preventive of injury or decay.—n. '. [Fr. préserver—L. præ, beforehand, servāre, to preserve.]

Preses, prē′sēz, n. (Scot.) a president or chairman.

Preside, prē-zīd′, v.i. to direct or control, esp. at a meeting: to superintend.—ns. ', the office of a president, or his dignity, term of office, jurisdiction, or residence: a division of British India, as the Presidency of Bengal; ', one who presides over a meeting: a chairman: the chief officer of a college, institution, &c.: an officer elected from time to time, as chief ruler of a republic—also adj. (Milt.).—n.fem. '.—adj. ', presiding over: pertaining to a president.—n. .—Lord President, the presiding judge of the Court of Session in Scotland; Lord President of the Council, a member of the House of Lords who presides over the privy council, with especial charge of education, sanitation, &c. [Fr. présider—L. præsidēre—præ, before, sedēre, to sit.]

Presidial, prē-sid′i-al, adj. pertaining to a garrison.—adj. and n. '.—n. ' (Sp. Amer.), a military post: a penitentiary.

Presignify, prē-sig′ni-fī, v.t. to signify beforehand.—n. , the act of showing beforehand.

Press, pres, v.t. to push on or against with a heavy weight or with great force: to squeeze out, as juice: to clasp or embrace: to bear heavily on: to distress: to urge strongly: to present to the mind with earnestness: to lay stress upon: to hurry on with great speed: to shape or smooth by the application of weight.—v.i. to exert pressure: to push with force: to crowd: to go forward with violence: to urge with vehemence and importunity: to exert a strong influence.—n. '.—adj. ', urgent: importunate: forcible.—adv. '.—n. '. [Fr. presser—L. pressāre—premĕre, pressum, to squeeze.]

Press, pres, n. an instrument for squeezing bodies: a printing-machine: the art or business of printing and publishing: act of urging forward: urgency: strong demand: a crowd: a closet for holding articles.—ns. ', a bed enclosed in a cupboard, or folding up into it; ' (B.), the vat of an olive or wine press for collecting the liquor; ', one who works a printing-press: a journalist or reporter: a member of a pressgang; ', a mark upon a book to show its place among others in a library; ', a room where printing-presses are worked; ', the operation of taking impressions from type or plates by means of the printing-press.—Press of sail, as much sail as can be carried.—Brahmah press, a hydraulic press called after Mr Brahmah, its inventor; Cylinder press, a printing-press in which the types are laid on a cylinder which revolves, instead of on a flat surface; Hydraulic press (see Hydraulic); Liberty of the press, the right of publishing books, &c., without submitting them to a government authority for permission; The Press, the literature of a country, esp. its newspapers.

Press, pres, v.t. to carry men off by violence to become soldiers or sailors.—ns. ', a gang or body of sailors under an officer empowered to impress men into the navy; ' (for prest-money), earnest-money. [Corr. from old form prest, from O. Fr. prester (Fr. prêter), to lend—præstāre, to offer—præ, before, stāre, to stand.]

Pressiroster, pres-si-ros′tėr, n. one of a tribe of wading birds, the ', having a flattened beak.—adj. '. [L. pressus, pa.p. of premĕre, to press, rostrum, a beak.]

Pressure, presh′ūr, n. act of pressing or squeezing: the state of being pressed: impulse: constraining force or influence: that which presses or afflicts: difficulties: urgency: strong demand: (physics) the action of force on something resisting it.—Centre of pressure (see Centre). [O. Fr.,—L. pressura—premĕre, to press.]

Prest, prest, adj. ready: neat: at hand.—n. ready-money: a loan.—v.t. to pay out: to lend. [L. præsto, ready.]

Prester John, pres′tėr jon, n. the name applied by medieval credulity (12th-14th cent.) to the supposed Christian sovereign of a vast empire in Central Asia. [O. Fr. prester (Fr. prêtre), priest.]

Prestidigitation, pres-ti-dij-i-tā′shun, n. sleight of hand—also '.—adj. '.—ns. ', ', one who practises sleight of hand.

Prestige, pres-tēzh′, or pres′tij, n. influence arising from past conduct or from reputation. [Fr.,—L. præstigium, delusion—præstinguĕre, to deceive.]

Presto, pres′to, adv. quick: at once: (mus.) quickly, quicker than allegro:—superl. . [It.,—L. præsto, ready.]

Prestriction, prē-strik′shun, n. blindness. [L. præstringĕre, præstrictum, to draw tight.]

Prestudy, prē-stud′i, v.t. to study beforehand.

Presultor, prē-sul′tor, n. a leader of a dance.

Presume, prē-zūm′, v.t. to take as true without examination or proof: to take for granted.—v.i. to venture beyond what one has ground for: to act forwardly or without proper right.—adj. ', that may be presumed or supposed to be true.—adv. '.—adj. ', venturing without permission: unreasonably bold.—adv. '.—n. ', act of presuming: supposition: strong probability: that which is taken for granted: confidence grounded on something not proved: conduct going beyond proper bounds: (law) an assuming of the truth of certain facts from the existence of others having some connection with them.—adj. ', presuming: grounded on probable evidence: (law) proving circumstantially.—adv. .—Presumptive evidence, evidence for a fact derived from other facts having some connection with it: indirect evidence.—Heir presumptive, the person, not son or daughter, at present next in succession to any living person. [Fr. présumer—L. præsumĕre—præ, before, sumĕre, to take—sub, under, emĕre, to buy.]

Presumptuous, prē-zump′tū-us, adj. full of presumption: going beyond the bounds of right or duty: bold and confident: founded on presumption: wilful.—adv. '.—n. '. [L. præsumptuosus.]

Presuppose, prē-sup-pōz′, v.t. to suppose before actual knowledge: to assume or take for granted.—n. .

Presurmise, prē-sur-mīz′, n. (Shak.) a surmise previously formed.

Pretend, prē-tend′, v.t. to hold out as a cloak for something else: to lay claim to: to attempt, undertake: to offer as true something that is not so: to affect to feel: (obs.) to offer, present.—v.i. to put in a claim: to make-believe.—ns. ', something pretended: appearance or show to hide reality: false show or reason: pretext: assumption: claim; ', , a pretender.—adjs. ', ', ostensible, assumed.—adv. '.—ns. '; '.—adv. '.—n. ', act of pretending: something pretended: false or fictitious appearance: claim either true or false.—adj. ', marked by or containing pretence: claiming more than is warranted: presumptuous: arrogant.—adv. ', in a pretentious manner.—n. ', the quality of being pretentious. [Fr. prétendre—L. prætendĕre—præ, before, tendĕre, tentum, tensum, to stretch.]

Pretense. Same as Pretence.

Pretercanine, prē-tėr-ka-nīn′, adj. more than canine.

Preterhuman, prē-tėr-hū′man, adj. more than human.

Preterimperfect, prē-tėr-im-pėr′fekt, adj. implying that an event was happening at a certain past time.

Preterite, pret′ėr-it, adj. gone by: past: noting the past tense.—n. the past tense.—ns. ', one who holds the prophecies of the Apocalypse already fulfilled; '.—adj. ' (biol.), once active but now latent.—n. ', the act of passing over: the doctrine that God passes over the non-elect in electing to eternal life those predestinated to salvation.—adj. , expressing past times. [L. præteritus—præter, beyond, īre, ītum, to go.]

Pretermit, prē-tėr-mit′, v.t. to pass by: to omit: to leave undone:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. —n. , the act of passing by: omission. [L. præter, past, mittĕre, to send.]

Preternatural, prē-tėr-nat′ū-ral, adj. beyond what is natural: out of the regular course of things: extraordinary.—n. ', belief in the preternatural: preternatural existence.—adv. '.—n. .

Preternuptial, prē-ter-nup′shal, adj. adulterous.

Preterperfect, prē-tėr-pėr′fekt, adj. denoting the perfect tense.

Preterpluperfect, prē-tėr-plōō′pėr-fekt, adj. denoting the pluperfect tense.

Pretext, prē′tekst, or prē-tekst′, n. an assumed motive or reason put forward to conceal the real one: a pretence. [L. prætextum—prætexĕre—præ, before, texĕre, to weave.]

Prethoughtful, prē-thawt′fōōl, adj. forethoughtful, prudent.

Pretibial, prē-tib′i-al, adj. situated upon the front of the lower part of the leg.

Pretor, &c. See Prætor, &c.

Pretty, pret′i, adj. tasteful: pleasing to the eye: having attractive but not striking beauty: neat: beautiful without dignity: small: affected: moderately large, considerable: puny, weak (a term of endearment): (in contempt) fine: (obs.) shrewd, cunning: (obs.) strong, warlike.—adv. in some degree: moderately.—v.t. ', to make pretty in an excessively ornamental way.—adv. ', in a pretty manner: pleasingly: elegantly: neatly.—n. '.—adj. ', somewhat pretty.—n. ' (coll.), a knick-knack.—adj. ', speaking or spoken prettily.—Pretty much, very nearly. [A.S. prættig, tricky—prætt, trickery; prob. Low L. practicus—Gr. praktikos—prattein, to do.]

Pretypify, prē-tip′i-fī, v.t. to represent by a type what is to happen: to prefigure.

Pretzel, pret′sel, n. a brittle biscuit, cracknel. [Ger.,—Old High Ger. brizilla, prezitella—Low L. bracellus, also braciolum, a kind of cake.]

Prevail, prē-vāl′, v.i. to be very powerful: to gain the victory: to have the upper hand: to have greater influence or effect: to overcome: to be in force: to succeed.—v.t. (obs.) avail.—adj. ', having great power: controlling: bringing about results: very general or common.—adv. '.—ns. ' (Shak.), prevalence; ', ', the state of being prevalent or wide-spread: superior strength or influence: preponderance: efficacy.—adj. ', prevailing: having great power: victorious: wide-spread: most common.—adv. . [Fr. prévaloir—L. prævalēre—præ, before, valēre, to be powerful.]

Prevaricate, prē-var′i-kāt, v.i. to shift about from side to side, to evade the truth: to quibble: (obs.) to undertake a thing with the purpose of defeating or destroying it: (law) to betray a client by collusion with his opponent.—v.t. (obs.) to pervert, transgress.—ns. ', the act of quibbling to evade the truth; ', one who prevaricates to evade the truth: a quibbler. [L. prævaricāri, -ātus—præ, inten., varicus, straddling—varus, bent.]

Prevenancy, prev′ē-nan-si, n. complaisance.

Prevent, prē-vent′, v.t. to hinder: to check: to render impossible: (orig.) to go before: to be earlier than.—v.t. ' (rare), to precede.—n. '.—adj. ' (Milt.), going before: preceding: preventive.—n. ', the quality of being preventable.—adj. ', that may be prevented or hindered.—ns. ', one who, or that which, prevents or hinders: (naut.) an additional rope or spar for strengthening the ordinary one; ', act of preventing: anticipation or forethought: obstruction.—adjs. ', ', tending to prevent or hinder: preservative.—n. that which prevents: a preservative.—adv. '.—n. .—Preventive service, the service rendered by the coastguard in preventing smuggling. [L. præventus, pa.p. of prævenīre—præ, before, venīre, to come.]

Prevertebral, prē-vėr′te-bral, adj. situated or developing before the vertebræ.

Previous, prē′vi-us, adj. going before in time: former.—adv. '.—n. ', antecedence: priority in time.—Previous question, a motion made during a debate, 'that the main question be now put.' If the decision be 'yes,' the debate is ended and the question put and decided; if it be 'no,' the debate is adjourned in the British parliament, but continues in the American assembly. [L. præevius—præ, before, via, a way.]

Previse, prē-viz′, v.t. to foresee: to forewarn.—n. , foresight: foreknowledge. [L. prævidēre, prævisum, to foresee—præ, before, vidēre, to see.]

Prewarn, prē-wawrn′, v.t. to warn beforehand.

Prex, preks, n. in U.S. college slang the president of a college.—Also .

Prey, prā, n. that which is taken by robbery or force: booty: plunder: that which is or may be seized to be devoured: a victim: depredation: (Shak.) the act of seizing.—v.i. to take plunder: to seize and devour: to waste or impair gradually: to weigh heavily (on or upon), as the mind.—adj.  (Shak.), having a disposition to prey on others.—Beast of prey, one who devours other animals. [O. Fr. praie (Fr. proie)—L. præda, booty.]

Priapus, prī-ā′pus, n. an ancient deity personifying male generative power.—adjs. ', '.—n. .

Price, prīs, n. that at which anything is prized, valued, or bought: excellence: recompense.—v.t. to set value on: (coll.) to ask the price of: (Spens.) to pay the price of.—ns. ', ', a list of the prices paid for any class of goods, &c.—adjs. Priced, set at a value; ', beyond price: invaluable: without value: worthless.—n. '.—Price of money, the rate of discount in lending or borrowing capital.—Without price, priceless. [O. Fr. pris (Fr. prix)—L. pretium, price.]

Prick, prik, n. that which pricks or penetrates: a sharp point: the act or feeling of pricking: a puncture: a sting: remorse: (Shak.) a thorn, prickle, skewer, point of time: (Spens.) point, pitch.—v.t. to pierce with a prick: to erect any pointed thing: to fix by the point: to put on by puncturing: to mark or make by pricking: to incite: to deck out as with flowers or feathers: to pain.—v.i. to have a sensation of puncture: to stand erect: to ride with spurs:—pa.t. and pa.p. pricked.—adj. ', having pointed ears.—ns. ', that which pricks: a sharp-pointed instrument: light-horseman: a priming wire; '; Prickle a little prick: a sharp point growing from the bark of a plant or from the skin of an animal.—v.t. to prick slightly.—v.i. (Spens.) to be prickly.—ns. ', the stickle-back; '; ', the act of piercing with a sharp point: (Shak.) the sensation of being pricked.—adj. prickly.—adj. ', full of prickles.—ns. ', a severe form of the skin disease known as lichen, with itching and stinging sensations; ', a class of plants with clusters of prickles and fruit like the pear; ' (Scot.), an affected person.—adj. over-precise.—ns. ' (Shak.), a song set to music: music in parts; ', a goad-spur;  (cf. Fast-and-loose);  (Scot.), a tailor. [A.S. pricu, a point; Ger. prickeln, Dut. prikkel, a prickle.]