Lexicon: presumptuous – previous

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presumptuous, adj. [OFr presuntuex < L. præsumptuōsus, see presume, v.] (webplay: before, known, true).

  1. Confident; arrogant; bold.
  2. Assuming; hopeful; speculative; unproven; unattested; based on conjecture.
  3. Greedy; covetous; usurping; commandeering; audaciously possessive.

pretense, n. [Late AFr. < medieval L. prætenděre, stretch forth, hold before, put forward, allege, pretend < præ, before + tenděre, stretch, extend.] (webplay: believe, real).

Simulation; replica; representation; imagined truth; falsehood; game; play; illusion; make-believe; self-deception; wishful thinking.

pretty, adj. [OE prætt, guile, trick.] (webplay: bearing, bird, children, claiming, countenance, creature, degree, face, fellow, flowers, ill, played, time, vivid, way, wind, world).

  1. Pleasant; pleasing; charming; nice; agreeable; delightful.
  2. Fair; comely; lovely; attractive; handsome; delicately beautiful.
  3. Modest; humble.

pretty, adv. [see pretty, adj.] (webplay: children, gentleman, pleasingly).

Rather; comparatively; fairly; tolerably; moderately; very.

prevail (-s), v. [ME < L. prævalēre, be very able, have greater power or worth, prevail < præ, before + valēre.] (webplay: evening, general, knew, love, star).

  1. Win; conquer; triumph; overcome; be victorious; have the advantage.
  2. Reign; dominate; abound; pervade the atmosphere; fill the air. (219/318)
  3. Continue; keep going; abide; remain; persist; take place; happen.
  4. Phrase. “Prevail opon”: take; overtake; catch up to; overcome; conquer; have power over; exert influence on.

prevailing, adj. [see prevail, v.] (webplay: before).

Predominant; dominating; foremost; overwhelming; most common; most abundant.

prevalent, adj. [L. prævalēns, very strong or powerful; see prevail, v.] (webplay: men).

Common; usual; [fig.] happening; occurring; experienced; undertaken.

prevent (-ed), v. [L. prævenīre, come before, precede, anticipate, hider, excel < præ, before + venīre, come.] (webplay: time).

  1. Hinder; stop; impede; block; forestall; keep.
  2. Keep out; shut out; impede the entry of; make impossible the approach of.

previous, adj. [L. prævi-us, going before, leading the way < præ, before + via, way.]

  1. Early; original; prior; antecedent; antedating; preceding; existing before.
  2. Anticipatory; timely; given before it was too late.

previous, adv. [see previous, adj.]

Formerly; already; hitherto; at an earlier time. (1698/1719)