Presence – Pretypifying

Presence

PRES'ENCE, noun s as z. [Latin proesentia; proe, before, and esse, to be.] The existence of a person or thing in a certain place; opposed to absence. This event happened during the king's presence at the theater. In examining the patient, the presence of fever was not observed. The presence of God is not limited to any place.

1. A being in company near or before the face of another. We were gratified with the presence of a person so much respected.

2. Approach face to face or nearness of a great personage.

Men that very presence fear,

Which once they knew authority did bear.

3. State of being in view; sight. An accident happened in the presence of the court.

4. By way of distinction, state of being in view of a superior.

I know not by what pow'r I am made bold,

In such a presence here to plead my thoughts.

5. A number assembled before a great person.

Odmar, of all this presence does contain,

Give her your wreath whom you esteem most fair.

6. Port; mien; air; personal appearance; demeanor.

Virtue is best in a body that is comely, and that has rather dignity of presence than beauty of aspect.

A graceful presence bespeaks acceptance.

7. The apartment in which a prince shows himself to his court.

An't please your grace, the two great cardinals.

Wait in the presence

8. The person of a superior.

Presence of mind, a calm, collected state of the mind with its faculties at command; undisturbed state of the thoughts, which enables a person to speak or act without disorder or embarrassment in unexpected difficulties.

Errors, not to be recalled, do find

Their best redress from presence of the mind.

Presence-Chamber

PRES'ENCE-CHAMBER

PRES'ENCE-ROOM, noun The room in which a great personage receives company.

Presence-Room

PRES'ENCE-ROOM, n. The room in which a great personage receives company.

Presensation

PRESENSA'TION, noun [pre and sensation.] Previous notion or idea.

Presension

PRESEN'SION, noun [Latin proesensio proesentio; proe and sentio, to perceive.] Previous perception. [Little used.]

Present

PRES'ENT, adjective s as z. [Latin proesens; proe and sum, esse, to be.]

1. Being in a certain place; opposed to absent.

2. Being before the face or near; being in company. Inquire of some of the gentlemen present

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. John 14:25.

3. Being now in view or under consideration. In the present instance, facts will not warrant the conclusion. The present question must be decided on different principles.

4. Now existing, or being at this time; not past or future; as the present session of congress. The court is in session at the present time. We say, a present good, the present year or age.

5. Ready at hand; quick in emergency; as present wit.

'Tis a high point of philosophy and virtue for a man to be present to himself.

6. Favorably attentive; not heedless; propitious.

Nor could I hope in any place but there

To find a god so present to my prayer.

7. Not absent of mind; not abstracted; attentive.

The present an elliptical expression for the present time.

At present elliptically for, at the present time.

Present tense, in grammar, the tense or form of a verb which expresses action or being in the present time, as I am writing; or something that exists at all times, as virtue is always to be preferred to vice; or it expresses habits or general truths, as plants spring from the earth; fishes swim; reptiles creep; birds fly; some animals subsist on herbage, others are carnivorous.

PRES'ENT, noun That which is presented or given; a gift; a donative; something given or offered to another gratuitously; a word of general application. Genesis 32:13.

Presents' in the plural, is used in law for a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney or other writing; as in the phrase, 'Know all men by these presents, ' that is, by the writing itself, per presentes. In this sense, it is rarely used in the singular.

PRESENT', verb transitive [Low Latin proesento; Latin proesens; proe, before, and sum, esse, to be.]

1. To set, place or introduce into the presence or before the face of a superior, as to present an envoy to the king; and with the reciprocal pronoun, to come into the presence of a superior.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord. Job 1:6.

2. To exhibit to view or notice. The top of Mount Holyoke, in Hampshire county, in Massachusetts, presents one of the finest prospects in America.

3. To offer; to exhibit.

O hear what to my mind first thoughts present

He is ever ready to present to us the thoughts or observations of others.

4. To give; to offer gratuitously for reception. The first President of the American Bible Society, presented to that institution ten thousand dollars.

5. To put into the hands of another in ceremony.

So ladies in romance assist their knight,

Present the spear, and arm him for the fight.

6. To favor with a gift; as, we present a man with a suit of clothes. Formerly the phrase was, to present a person.

Octavia presented the poet, for his admirable elegy on her son Marcellus.

[This use is obsolete.]

7. To nominate to an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.

The patron of a church may present his clerk to a parsonage or vicarage; that is, may offer him to the bishop of the diocese to be instituted.

8. To offer.

He--presented battle to the French navy, which was refused.

9. To lay before a public body for consideration, as before a legislature, a court of judicature, a corporation, etc.; as, to present a memorial, petition, remonstrance or indictment.

10. To lay before a court of judicature as an object of inquiry; to give notice officially of a crime or offense. It is the duty of grand juries to present all breaches of law within their knowledge. In America, grand juries present whatever they think to be public injuries, by notifying them to the public with their censure.

11. To point a weapon, particularly some species of fire-arms; as, to present a musket to the breast of another; in manual exercise, to present arms.

12. To indict; a customary use of the word in the United Stats.

Presentable

PRESENT'ABLE, adjective That may be presented; that may be exhibited or represented.

1. That may be offered to a church living; as a presentable clerk.

2. That admits of the presentation of a clerk; as a church presentable [Unusual.]

Presentaneous

PRESENTA'NEOUS, adjective [Latin proesentaneus.] Ready; quick; immediate; as presentaneous poison.

Presentation

PRESENTA'TION, noun The act of presenting.

Prayers are sometimes a presentation of mere desires.

1. Exhibition; representation; display; as the presentation of fighting on the stage.

2. In ecclesiastical law, the act of offering a clerk to the bishop or ordinary for institution in a benefice. An advowson is he right of presentation

If the bishop admits the patron's presentation the clerk so admitted is next to be instituted by him.

3. The right of presenting a clerk. The patron has the presentation of the benefice.

Presentative

PRESENT'ATIVE, adjective In ecclesiastical affairs, that has the right of presentation, or offering a clerk to the bishop for institution. Advowsons are presentative collative or donative.

An advowson presentative is where the patron hath a right of presentation to the bishop or ordinary.

1. That admits the presentation of a clerk; as a presentative parsonage.

Presented

PRESENT'ED, participle passive Offered; given; exhibited to view; accused.

Presentee

PRES'ENTEE, noun One presented to a benefice.

Presenter

PRESENT'ER, noun One that presents.

Presential

PRESEN'TIAL, adjective Supposing actual presence. [Little used.]

Presentiality

PRESENTIAL'ITY, noun The state of being present. [Little used.]

Presentiate

PRESEN'TIATE, verb transitive To make present. [Little used.]

Presentific

PRESENTIF'IC

PRESENTIF'ICAL, adjective Making present. [Not in use.]

Presentifical

PRESENTIF'ICAL, a. Making present. [Not in use.]

Presentificly

PRESENTIF'ICLY, adverb In such a manner as to make present. [Not in use.]

Presentiment

PRESENT'IMENT, noun [pre and sentiment.] Previous conception, sentiment or opinion; previous apprehension of something future.

Presently

PRES'ENTLY, adverb s as z. At present; at this time.

The towns and forts you presently have.

1. In a short time after; soon after.

Him therefore I hope to send presently so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. Philippians 2:23.

And presently the fig-tree withered away. Matthew 21:19.

Presentment

PRESENT'MENT, noun s as z. The act of presenting.

1. Appearance to the view; representation.

2. In law, a presentment properly speaking, is the notice taken by a grand jury of any offense from their own knowledge or observation, without any bill of indictment laid before them at the suit of the king; as the presentment of a nuisance, a libel or the like, on which the officer of the court must afterwards frame an indictment, before the party presented can be put to answer it.

3. In a more general sense, presentment comprehends inquisitions of office and indictments.

In the United States, a presentment is an official accusation presented to a tribunal by the grand jury in an indictment; or it is the act of offering an indictment. It is also used for the indictment itself. The grand jury are charged to inquire and due presentment make of all crimes, etc. The use of the word is limited to accusations by grand jurors.

4. The official notice in court which the jury or homage gives of the surrender of a copyhold estate.

Presentness

PRES'ENTNESS, noun s as z. Presence; as presentness of mind. [Not used.]

Preservable

PRESERV'ABLE, adjective [See Preserve.] That may be preserved.

Preservation

PRESERVA'TION, noun The act of preserving or keeping safe; the act of keeping from injury, destruction or decay; as the preservation of life or health; the preservation of buildings from fire or decay; the preservation of grain from insects; the preservation of fruit or plants. When a thing is kept entirely from decay, or nearly in its original state, we say it is in a high state of preservation

Preservative

PRESERV'ATIVE, adjective Having the power or quality of keeping safe from injury, destruction or decay; tending to preserve.

PRESERV'ATIVE, noun That which preserves or has the power of preserving; something that tends to secure a person or thing in a sound state, or prevent if from injury, destruction, decay or corruption; a preventive of injury or decay. Persons formerly wore tablets of arsenic, as preservatives against the plague. Clothing is a preservative against cold. Temperance and exercise are the best preservatives of health. Habitual reverence of the Supreme Being is an excellent preservative against sin and the influence of evil examples.

Preservatory

PRESERV'ATORY, adjective That tends to preserve.

PRESERV'ATORY, noun That which has the power of preserving; a preservative.

Preserve

PRESERVE, verb transitive prezerv'. [Low Latin proeservo; proe and servo, to keep.]

1. To keep or save from injury or destruction; to defend from evil.

God did send me before you to preserve life. Genesis 45:5.

O Lord, preserve me from the violent man. Psalms 140:1.

2. To uphold; to sustain.

O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. Psalms 36:6.

3. To save from decay; to keep in a sound state; as, to preserve fruit in winter. Salt is used to preserve meat.

4. To season with sugar or other substances for preservation; as, to preserve plums, quinces or other fruit.

5. To keep or defend from corruption; as, to preserve youth from vice.

PRESERVE, noun preserv'. Fruit or a vegetable seasoned and kept in sugar or sirup.

Preserved

PRESERV'ED, participle passive Saved from injury, destruction or decay; kept or defended from evil; seasoned with sugar for preservation.

Preserver

PRESERV'ER, noun The person or thing that preserves; one that saves or defends from destruction or evil.

What shall I do to thee, O thou preserver of men? Job 7:20.

1. One that makes preserves of fruits.

Preserving

PRESERV'ING, participle present tense Keeping safe from injury, destruction or decay; defending from evil.

Preside

PRESI'DE, verb intransitive s as z. [Latin proesideo; proe, before, and sedeo, to sit.]

1. To be set over for the exercise of authority; to direct, control and govern, as the chief officer. A man may preside over a nation or province; or he may preside over a senate, or a meeting of citizens. The word is used chiefly in the latter sense. We say, a man presides over the senate with dignity. Hence it usually denotes temporary superintendence and government.

2. To exercise superintendence; to watch over as inspector.

Some o'er the public magazines preside

Presidency

PRES'IDENCY, noun Superintendence; inspection and care.

1. The office of president. Washington was elected to the presidency of the United States by a unanimous vote of the electors.

2. The term during which a president holds his office. President J. Adams died during the presidency of his son.

3. The jurisdiction of a president; as in the British dominions in the East Indies.

4. The family or suit of a president.

A worthy clergyman belonging to the presidency of Fort St. George.

President

PRES'IDENT, noun [Latin proesidens.]

1. An officer elected or appointed to preside over a corporation, company or assembly of men, to keep order, manage their concerns or govern their proceedings; as the president of a banking company; the president of a senate, etc.

2. An officer appointed or elected to govern a province or territory, or to administer the government of a nation. The president of the United States is the chief executive magistrate.

3. The chief officer of a college or university.

4. A tutelar power.

Just Apollo, president of verse.

Vice-president, one who is second in authority to the president The vice-president of the United States is president of the senate ex officio, and performs the duties of president when the latter is removed or disabled.

Presidential

PRESIDEN'TIAL, adjective Pertaining to a president; as the presidential chair.

1. Presiding over.

Presidentship

PRES'IDENTSHIP, noun The office and place of president.

1. The term for which a president holds his office.

Presidial

PRESID'IAL

PRESID'IARY, adjective [Latin proesidium, a garrison; proe and sedeo.]

Pertaining to a garrison; having a garrison.

Presidiary

PRESID'IARY, a. [L. proesidium, a garrison; proe and sedeo.]

Pertaining to a garrison; having a garrison.

Presignification

PRESIGNIFICA'TION, noun [from presignify.]

The act of signifying or showing beforehand.

Presignify

PRESIG'NIFY, verb transitive [pre and signify.] To intimate or signify beforehand; to show previously.

Press

PRESS, verb transitive [Latin pressus.]

1. To urge with force or weight; a word of extensive use, denoting the application of any power, physical or moral, to something that is to be moved or affected. We press the ground with the feet when we walk; we press the couch on which we repose; we press substances with the hands, fingers or arms; the smith presses iron with his vise; we are pressed with the weight of arguments or of cares, troubles and business.

2. To squeeze; to crush; as, to press grapes. Genesis 40:11.

3. To drive with violence; to hurry; as, to press a horse in motion, or in a race.

4. To urge; to enforce; to inculcate with earnestness; as, to press divine truth on an audience.

5. To embrace closely; to hug.

Leucothoe shook

And press'd Palemon closer in her arms.

6. To force into service, particularly into naval service; to impress.

7. To straiten; to distress; as, to be pressed with want or with difficulties.

8. To constrain; to compel; to urge by authority or necessity.

The posts that rode on mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. Esther 8:14.

9. To urge; to impose by importunity.

He pressed a letter upon me, within this hour, to deliver to you.

10. To urge or solicit with earnestness or importunity. He pressed me to accept of his offer.

11. To urge; to constrain.

Paul was pressed in spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. Acts 18:5.

Wickedness pressed with conscience, forecasteth grievous things.

12. To squeeze for making smooth; as cloth or paper.

PRESS differs from drive and strike, in usually denoting a slow or continued application of force; whereas drive and strike denote a sudden impulse of force.

PRESS, verb intransitive To urge or strain in motion; to urge forward with force.

I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14.

Th' insulting victor presses on the more.

1. To bear on with force; to encroach.

On superior powers

Were we to press inferior might on ours.

2. To bear on with force; to crowd; to throng.

Thronging crowds press on you as you pass.

3. To approach unseasonably or importunately.

Nor press too near the throne.

4. To urge with vehemence and importunity.

He pressed upon them greatly, and they turned in to him. Genesis 19:3.

5. To urge by influence or moral force.

When arguments press equally in matters indifferent, the safest method is to give up ourselves to neither.

6. To push with force; as, to press against the door.

PRESS, noun

1. An instrument or machine by which any body is squeezed, crushed or forced into a more compact form; as a wine-press, cider-press or cheese-press.

2. A machine for printing; a printing-press. Great improvements have been lately made in the construction of presses.

3. The art or business of printing and publishing. A free press is a great blessing to a free people; a licentious press is a curse to society.

4. A crowd; a throng; a multitude of individuals crowded together.

And when they could not come nigh to him for the press--Mark 2:4.

5. The act of urging or pushing forward.

Which in their throng and press to the last hold,

Confound themselves.

6. A wine-vat or cistern. Haggai 2:16.

7. A case of closet for the safe keeping of garments.

8. Urgency; urgent demands of affairs; as a press of business.

9. A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy; for impress.

PRESS of sail, in navigation, is as much sail as the state of the wind will permit.

Liberty of the press in civil policy, is the free right of publishing books, pamphlets or papers without previous restraint; or the unrestrained right which every citizen enjoys of publishing his thoughts and opinions, subject only to punishment for publishing what is pernicious to morals or to the peace of the state.

PRESS'-BED, noun A bed that may be raised and inclosed in a case.

Press-Gang

PRESS'-GANG, noun [press and gang.] A detachment of seamen under the command of an officer, empowered to impress men into the naval service.

Pressed

PRESS'ED, participle passive Urged by force or weight; constrained; distressed; crowded; embraced; made smooth and glossy by pressure, as cloth.

Presser

PRESS'ER, noun One that presses.

Pressing

PRESS'ING, participle present tense Urging with force or weight; squeezing; constraining; crowding; embracing; distressing; forcing into service; rolling in a press.

1. adjective Urgent; distressing.

PRESS'ING, noun The act or operation of applying force to bodies. The pressing of cloth is performed by means of the screw, or by a calendar.

Pressingly

PRESS'INGLY, adverb With force or urgency; closely.

Pression

PRES'SION, noun The act of pressing. But pressure is more generally used.

1. In the Cartesian philosophy, an endeavor to move.

Pressitant

PRESS'ITANT, adjective Gravitating; heavy. [Not in use.]

Pressman

PRESS'MAN, noun In printing, the man who manages the press and impresses the sheets.

1. One of a press-gang, who aids in forcing men into the naval service.

PRESS'-MONEY, noun Money paid to a man impressed into public service. [See Prest-money.]

Pressure

PRESS'URE, noun [Latin pressura.] The act of pressing or urging with force.

1. The act of squeezing or crushing. Wine is obtained by the pressure of grapes.

2. The state of being squeezed or crushed.

3. The force of one body acting on another by weight or the continued application of power. pressure is occasioned by weight or gravity, by the motion of bodies, by the expansion of fluids, by elasticity, etc. Mutual pressure may be caused by the meeting of moving bodies, or by the motion of one body against another at rest, and the resistance or elastic force of the latter. The degree of pressure is in proportion to the weight of the pressing body, or to the power applied, or to the elastic force of resisting bodies. The screw is a most powerful instrument of pressure The pressure of wind on the sails of a ship is in proportion to its velocity.

4. A constraining force or impulse; that which urges or compels the intellectual or moral faculties; as the pressure of motives on the mind, or of fear on the conscience.

5. That which afflicts the body or depresses the spirits; any severe affliction, distress, calamity or grievance; straits, difficulties, embarrassments, or the distress they occasion. We speak of the pressure of poverty or want, the pressure of debts, the pressure of taxes, the pressure of afflictions or sorrow.

My own and my people's pressures are grievous.

To this consideration he retreats with comfort in all his pressures.

We observe that pressure is used both for trouble or calamity, and for the distress it produces.

6. Urgency; as the pressure of business.

7. Impression; stamp; character impressed.

All laws of books, all forms, all pressures past.

Prest

PREST, sometimes used for pressed. [See Press.]

PREST, adjective [Latin proesto, to stand before or forward; proe and sto.]

1. Ready; prompt.

2. Neat; tight.

PREST, noun A loan.

1. Formerly, a duty in money, to be paid by the sheriff on his account in the exchequer, or for money left or remaining in his hands.

Prest-Money

PREST'-MONEY, noun Money paid to men impressed into the service.

Prestation

PRESTA'TION, noun [Latin proestatio.] Formerly, a payment of money; sometimes used for purveyance.

Prestation-Money

PRESTA'TION-MONEY, noun A sum of money paid yearly by archdeacons and other dignitaries to their bishop, pro exteriore jurisdictione.

Prester

PRES'TER, noun [Gr. to kindle or inflame.]

1. A meteor thrown from the clouds with such violence, that by collision it is set on fire.

2. The external part of the neck, which swells when a person is angry.

Prestiges

PRES'TIGES, noun [Latin proestigioe.] Juggling tricks; impostures.

Prestigiation

PRESTIGIA'TION, noun [Latin proestigioe, tricks.] The playing of legerdemain tricks; a juggling.

Prestigiator

PRESTIGIA'TOR, noun A juggler; a cheat.

Prestigiatory

PRESTIG'IATORY, adjective Juggling; consisting of impostures.

Prestigious

PRESTIG'IOUS, adjective Practicing tricks; juggling.

Prestimony

PRES'TIMONY, noun [Latin proesto, to supply; proe and sto.] In canon law, a fund for the support of a priest, appropriated by the founder, but not erected into any title of benefice, and not subject to the pope or the ordinary, but of which the patron is the collator.

But in a Spanish Dictionary thus defined, 'a prebend for the maintenance of poor clergymen, on condition of their saying prayers at certain stated times.

Presto

PRES'TO, adverb [Latin proesto.]

1. In music, a direction for a quick lively movement or performance.

2. Quickly; immediately; in haste.

Prestriction

PRESTRIC'TION, noun [Latin proestringo, proestrictus.] Dimness.

Presumable

PRESU'MABLE, adjective s as z. [from presume.] That may be presumed; that may be supposed to be true or entitled to belief, without examination or direct evidence, or on probable evidence.

Presumably

PRESU'MABLY, adverb By presuming or supposing something to be true, without direct proof.

Presume

PRESU'ME, verb transitive s as z. [Latin proesumo; proe, before, and sumo, to take.] To take or suppose to be true or entitled to belief, without examination or positive proof, or on the strength of probability. We presume that a man is honest, who has not been known to cheat or deceive; but in this we are sometimes mistaken. In many cases, the law presumes full payment where positive evidence of it cannot be produced.

We not only presume it may be so, but we actually find it so.

In cases of implied contracts, the law presumes that a man has covenanted or contracted to do what reason and justice dictate.

PRESU'ME, verb intransitive To venture without positive permission; as, we may presume too far.

1. To form confident or arrogant opinions; with on or upon, before the cause of confidence.

This man presumes upon his parts.

I will not presume so far upon myself.

2. To make confident or arrogant attempts.

In that we presume to see what is meet and convenient, better than God himself.

3. It has on or upon sometimes before the thing supposed.

Luther presumes upon the gift of continency.

It is sometimes followed by of, but improperly.

Presumed

PRESU'MED, participle passive Supposed or taken to be true, or entitled to belief, without positive proof.

Presumer

PRESU'MER, noun One that presumes; also, an arrogant person.

Presuming

PRESU'MING, participle present tense Taking as true, or supposing to be entitled to belief, on probable evidence.

1. adjective Venturing without positive permission; too confident; arrogant; unreasonably bold.

Presumption

PRESUMP'TION, noun [Latin proesumption.]

1. Supposition of the truth or real existence of something without direct or positive proof of the fact, but grounded on circumstantial or probable evidence which entitles it to belief. presumption in law is of three sorts, violent or strong, probable, and light.

Next to positive proof, circumstantial evidence or the doctrine of presumptions must take place; for when the fact cannot be demonstratively evinced, that which comes nearest to the proof of the fact is the proof of such circumstances as either necessarily or usually attend such facts. These are called presumptions. Violent presumption is many times equal to full proof.

2. Strong probability; as in the common phrase, the presumption is that an event has taken place, or will take place.

3. Blind or headstrong confidence; unreasonable adventurousness; a venturing to undertake something without reasonable prospect of success, or against the usual probabilities of safety; presumptuousness.

Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath.

I had the presumption to dedicate to you a very unfinished price.

4. Arrogance. He had the presumption to attempt to dictate to the council.

5. Unreasonable confidence in divine favor.

The awe of his majesty will keep us from presumption

Presumptive

PRESUMP'TIVE, adjective Taken by previous supposition; grounded on probable evidence.

1. Unreasonably confident; adventuring without reasonable ground to expect success; presumptuous; arrogant.

Presumptive evidence, in law, is that which is derived from circumstances which necessarily or usually attend a fact, as distinct from direct evidence or positive proof.

Presumptive evidence of felony should be cautiously admitted.

Presumptive heir, one who would inherit an estate if the ancestor should die with things in their present state, but whose right of inheritance may be defeated by the birth of a nearer heir before the death of the ancestor. Thus the presumptive succession of a brother or nephew may be destroyed by the birth of a child. presumptive heir is distinguished from heir apparent, whose right of inheritance is indefeasible, provided he outlives the ancestor.

Presumptively

PRESUMP'TIVELY, adverb By presumption, or supposition grounded on probability.

Presumptuous

PRESUMP'TUOUS, adjective

1. Bold and confident to excess; adventuring without reasonable ground of success; hazarding safety on too slight grounds; rash; applied to persons; as a presumptuous commander.

There is a class of presumptuous men whom age has not made cautious, nor adversity wise.

2. Founded on presumption; proceeding from excess of confidence; applied to things; as presumptuous hope.

3. Arrogant; insolent; as a presumptuous priest.

Presumptuous pride.

4. Unduly confident; irreverent with respect to sacred things.

5. Willful; done with bold design, rash confidence or in violation of known duty; as a presumptuous sin.

Presumptuously

PRESUMP'TUOUSLY, adverb With rash confidence.

1. Arrogantly; insolently.

2. Willfully; in bold defiance of conscience or violation of known duty; as, to sin presumptuously Numbers 15:30.

3. With groundless and vain confidence in the divine favor.

Presumptuousness

PRESUMP'TUOUSNESS, noun The quality of being presumptuous or rashly confident; groundless confidence; arrogance; irreverent boldness or forwardness.

Presupposal

PRESUPPOSAL, noun presuppo'zal. [pre and supposal.]

Supposal previously formed; presupposition.

Presuppose

PRESUPPO'SE, verb transitive presuppo'ze. [Eng. pre and suppose.] To suppose as previous; to imply as antecedent. The existence of created things presupposes the existence of a Creator.

Each kind of knowledge presupposes many necessary things learned in other sciences and known beforehand.

Presupposed

PRESUPPO'SED, participle passive Supposed to be antecedent.

Presupposing

PRESUPPO'SING, participle present tense Supposing to be previous.

Presupposition

PRESUPPOSI'TION, noun Supposition previously formed.

1. Supposition of something antecedent.

Presurmise

PRESURMISE, noun presurmi'ze. [pre and surmise.]

A surmise previously formed.

Pretend

PRETEND', verb transitive [Latin proetendo; proe, before, and tendo, to tend, to reach or stretch.]

1. Literally, to reach or stretch forward; used by Dryden, but this use is not well authorized.

2. To hold out, as a false appearance; to offer something feigned instead of that which is real; to simulate, in words or actions.

This let him know,

Lest willfully transgressing, he pretend

Surprisal.

3. To show hypocritically; as, to pretend great zeal when the heart is not engaged; to pretend patriotism for the sake of gaining popular applause or obtaining an office.

4. To exhibit as a cover for something hidden.

Lest that too heavenly form, pretended

To hellish falsehood, snare them. [Not in use.]

5. To claim.

Chiefs shall be grudg'd the part which they pretend

[In this we generally use pretend to.]

6. To intend; to design. [Not used.]

PRETEND', verb transitive To put in a claim, truly or falsely; to hold out the appearance of being, possessing or performing. A man may pretend to be a physician, and pretend to perform great cures. Bad men often pretend to be patriots.

Pretended

PRETEND'ED, participle passive Held out, as a false appearance; feigned; simulated.

1. adjective Ostensible; hypocritical; as a pretended reason or motive; pretended zeal.

Pretendedly

PRETEND'EDLY, adverb By false appearance or representation.

Pretender

PRETEND'ER, noun One who makes a show of something not real; one who lays claim to any thing.

1. In English history, the heir of the royal family of Stuart, who lays claim to the crown of Great Britain, but is excluded by law.

Pretendership

PRETEND'ERSHIP, noun The right or claim of the Pretender.

Pretending

PRETEND'ING, participle present tense Holding out a false appearance; laying claim to, or attempting to make others believe one is what in truth he is not, or that he has or does something which he has or does not; making hypocritical professions.

Pretendingly

PRETEND'INGLY, adverb Arrogantly; presumptuously.

Pretense

PRETENSE, noun pretens'. [Latin proetensus, proetendo.]

1. A holding out or offering to others something false or feigned; a presenting to others, either in words or actions, a false or hypocritical appearance, usually with a view to conceal what is real, and thus to deceive. Under pretense of giving liberty to nations, the prince conquered and enslaved them. Under pretense of patriotism, ambitious men serve their own selfish purposes.

Let not Trojans, with a feigned pretense

Of proffer'd peace, delude the Latian prince.

It is sometimes preceded by on; as on pretense of revenging Caesar's death.

2. Assumption; claim to notice.

Never was any thing of this pretense more ingeniously imparted.

3. Claim, true or false.

Primogeniture cannot have any pretense to a right of solely inheriting property or power.

4. Something held out to terrify or for other purpose; as a pretense of danger.

Pretensed

PRETENS'ED, adjective Pretended; feigned; as a pretensed right to land. [Little used.]

Pretension

PRETEN'SION, noun

1. Claim, true or false; a holding out the appearance of right or possession of a thing, with a view to make others believe what is not real, or what, if true, is not yet known or admitted. A man may make pretensions to rights which he cannot maintain; he may make pretensions to skill which he does not possess; and he may make pretensions to skill or acquirements which he really possesses, but which he is not known to possess. Hence we speak of ill founded pretensions, and well founded pretensions.

2. Claim to something to be obtained, or a desire to obtain something, manifested by words or actions. Any citizen may have pretensions to the honor of representing the state in the senate or house of representatives.

The commons demand that the consulship should lie in common to the pretensions of any Roman.

Men indulge those opinions and practices that favor their pretensions.

3. Fictitious appearance; a Latin phrase, not now used.

This was but an invention and pretension given out by the Spaniards.

Pretentative

PRETENT'ATIVE, adjective [Latin proe and tento, to try.]

That may be previously tried or attempted. [Little used.]

Preter

PRETER, a Latin preposition, [proeter, ] is used in some English words as a prefix. Its proper signification is beyond, hence beside, more.

Preterimperfect

PRETERIMPER'FECT, adjective [beyond or beside unfinished.] In grammar, designating the tense which expresses action or being not perfectly past; an awkward epithet, very ill applied.

Preterit

PRE'TERIT, adjective [Latin proeteritus, proetereo; proeter, beyond, and eo, to go.] Past; applied to the tense in grammar which expresses an action or being perfectly past or finished, often that which is just past or completed, but without a specification of time. It is called also the perfect tense; as, scripsi, I have written. We say, 'I have written a letter to my correspondent; ' in which sentence, the time is supposed to be not distant and not specified. But when the time is mentioned, we use the imperfect tense so called; as, 'I wrote to my correspondent yesterday.' In this use of the preterit or perfect tense, the English differs from the French, in which j'ai ecrit heir, is correct; but I have written yesterday, would be very bad English.

Preterition

PRETERI'TION, noun [Latin proeterio, to pass by.]

1. The act of going past; the state of being past.

2. In rhetoric, a figure by which, in pretending to pass over any thing, we make a summary mention of it; as, 'I will not say, he is valiant, he is learned, he is just, ' etc. The most artful praises are those bestowed by way of preterition

Preteritness

PRE'TERITNESS, noun [from preterit.] The state of being past. [Little used.]

Preterlapsed

PRETERLAPS'ED, adjective [Latin proeterlapsus, proeterlabor; proeter and labor, to glide.] Past; gone by; as preterlapsed ages.

Preterlegal

PRETERLE'GAL, adjective [Latin proeter and legal.] Exceeding the limits of law; not legal. [Little used.]

Pretermission

PRETERMIS'SION. noun [Latin proetermissio, from proetermitto.]

A passing by; omission.

1. In rhetoric, the same as preterition.

Pretermit

PRETERMIT', verb transitive [Latin proetermitto; proeter, beyond, and mitto, to send.] To pass by; to omit.

Preternatural

PRETERNAT'URAL, adjective [Latin proeter and natural.] Beyond what is natural, or different from what is natural; irregular. We call those events in the physical world preternatural which are extraordinary, which are deemed to be beyond or without the ordinary course of things, and yet are not deemed miraculous; in distinction from events which are supernatural, which cannot be produced by physical laws or powers, and must therefore be produced by a direct exertion of omnipotence. We also apply the epithet to things uncommon or irregular; as a preternatural swelling; a preternatural pulse; a preternatural excitement or temper.

Preternaturality

PRETERNATURAL'ITY, noun Preternaturalness. [Little used.]

Preternaturally

PRETERNAT'URALLY, adverb In a manner beyond or aside from the common order of nature; as vessels of the body preternaturally distended.

Preternaturalness

PRETERNAT'URALNESS, noun A state or manner different from the common order of nature.

Preterperfect

PRETERPER'FECT, adjective [Latin proeter and perfectus.] Literally, more than complete or finished; an epithet equivalent to preterit, applied to the tense of verbs which expresses action or being absolutely past. [Grammar.]

Preterpluperfect

PRETERPLUPER'FECT, adjective [Latin proeter, beyond, plus, more, and perfectus, perfect.] Literally, beyond more than perfect; an epithet designating the tense of verbs which expresses action or being past prior to another past event or time; better denominated the prior past tense, that is, past prior to another event.

Pretex

PRETEX', verb transitive [Latin proetexo; proe and texo, or tego, texui.]

To cloak; to conceal. [Not used.]

Pretext

PRETEXT', noun [Latin proetextus.] Pretense; false appearance; ostensible reason or motive assigned or assumed as a color or cover for the real reason or motive. He gave plausible reasons for this conduct, but these were only a pretext to conceal his real motives.

He made pretext that I should only go

And help convey his freight; but thought not so.

They suck the blood of those they depend on, under a pretext of service and kindness.

Pretor

PRE'TOR, noun [Latin proetor, from the root of proe, before.]

Among the ancient Romans, a judge; an officer answering to the modern chief justice or chancellor, or to both. In later times, subordinate judges appointed to distribute justice in the provinces, were created and called pretors or provincial pretors. These assisted the consuls in the government of the provinces.

In modern times, the word is sometimes used for a mayor or magistrate.

Pretorial

PRETO'RIAL, adjective Pertaining to a pretor or judge; judicial.

Pretorian

PRETO'RIAN, adjective Belonging to a pretor or judge; judicial; exercised by the pretor; as pretorian power or authority.

Pretorian bands or guards, in Roman history, were the emperor's guards. Their number was ultimately increased to ten thousand men.

Pretorship

PRE'TORSHIP, noun The office of pretor.

Prettily

PRETTILY, adverb prit'tily. [from pretty.] In a pretty manner; with neatness and taste; pleasingly; without magnificence or splendor; as a woman prettily dressed; a parterre prettily ornamented with flowers.

1. With decency, good manners and decorum without dignity.

Children kept out of ill company, take a price to behave themselves prettily

Prettiness

PRETTINESS, noun prit'tiness. [from pretty.]

1. Diminutive beauty; a pleasing form without stateliness or dignity; as the prettiness of the face; the prettiness of a bird or other small animal; the prettiness of dress.

2. Neatness and taste displayed on small objects; as the prettiness of a flower bed.

3. Decency of manners; pleasing propriety without dignity or elevation; as the prettiness of a child'd behavior.

Pretty

PRETTY, adjective prit'ty.

1. Having diminutive beauty; of a pleasing form with the strong lines of beauty, or without gratefulness and dignity; as a pretty face; a pretty person; a pretty flower.

The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant creature in the world.

That which is little can be but pretty and by claiming dignity becomes ridiculous.

2. Neat and appropriate without magnificence or splendor; as a pretty dress.

3. Handsome; neatly arranged or ornamented; as a pretty flower bed.

4. Neat; elegant without elevation or grandeur; as a pretty tale or story; a pretty song or composition.

5. Sly; crafty; as, he has played his friend a pretty trick. This seems to be the sense of the word in this phrase, according with the Saxon proetig. And hence perhaps the phrase, a pretty fellow.

6. Small; diminutive; in contempt. He will make a pretty figure in a triumph.

7. Not very small; moderately large; as a pretty way off.

Cut off the stalks of cucumbers immediately after their bearing, close by the earth, and then cast a pretty quantity of earth upon the plant, and they will bear next year before the ordinary time. [Not in use.]

PRETTY, adverb prit'ty. In some degree; tolerably; moderately; as a farm pretty well stocked; the colors became pretty vivid; I am pretty sure of the fact; the wind is pretty fair. The English farthing is pretty near the value of the American cent. In these and similar phrases, pretty expresses less than very.

The writer pretty plainly professes himself a sincere christian.

Pretypified

PRETYP'IFIED, participle passive [from pretypify.] Antecedently represented by type; prefigured.

Pretypify

PRETYP'IFY, verb transitive [pre and typify.] To prefigure; to exhibit previously in a type.

Pretypifying

PRETYP'IFYING, participle present tense Prefiguring.