Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRES'ENT-EE, n.

One presented to a benefice. – Ayliffe.

PRE-SENT'ER, n.

One that presents.

PRE-SEN'TIAL, a.

Supposing actual presence. [Little used.] – Norris.

PRES-EN-TIAL'I-TY, n.

The state of being present. [Little used.] – South.

PRE-SEN'TIATE, v.t.

To make present. [Little used.] – Grew.

PRE-SEN'TIENT, a.

Perceiving beforehand. [1841: PRE-SEN'TI-ENT.]

PRES-EN-TIF'IC, or PRES-EN-TIF'IC-AL, a.

Making present. [Not in use.]

PRES-EN-TIF'IC-LY, adv.

In such a manner as to make present. [Not in use.] – More.

PRE-SENT'I-MENT, n. [pre and sentiment, or Fr. pressentiment.]

Previous conception, sentiment or opinion; previous apprehension of something future. – Butler.

PRE'SENT-LY, adv. [s as z.]

1. At present; at this time. The towns and forts you presently have. [Obs.] – Sidney.
2. 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. – Phil. ii.
3. Immediately. And presently the fig-tree withered away. – Matth. xxi.

PRE-SENT'MENT, n. [s as z.]

1. The act of presenting. – Shak.
2. Appearance to the view; representation. – Milton.
3. 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 afterward frame an indictment, before the party presented can be put to answer it. – Blackstone.
4. In a more general sense, presentment comprehends inquisitions of office and indictments. – Blackstone. 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, &c. The use of the word is limited to accusations by grand jurors.
5. The official notice in court which the jury or homage gives of the surrender of a copyhold estate. – Blackstone.

PRES'ENT-NESS, n. [s as z.]

Presence; as, greatness of mind. [Not used.] – Clarendon.

PRE-SERV'A-BLE, a. [See Preserve.]

That may be preserved.

PRES-ER-VA'TION, n. [from preserve; It. preservazione.]

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.

PRE-SERV'A-TIVE, a. [It. preservativo; Fr. preservatif.]

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

PRE-SERV'A-TIVE, n.

That which preserves or has the power of preserving; something that tends to secure a person or thing in a sound state, or prevent it 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.

PRE-SERV'A-TO-RY, a.

That tends to preserve. – Hall.

PRE-SERV'A-TO-RY, n.

That which has the power of preserving; a preservative. – Whitlock.

PRE-SERVE, n. [prezerv'.]

Fruit or a vegetable seasoned and kept in sugar or sirup. – Mortimer.

PRE-SERVE, v.t. [prezerv'; Fr. preserver; It. preservare; Sp. preservar; Low L. præservo; præ 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. – Gen. xlv. O Lord, preserve me from the violent man. – Ps. cxi.
2. To uphold; to sustain. O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. – Ps. xxxvi.
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.

PRE-SERV'ED, pp.

Saved from injury, destruction or decay; kept or defended from evil; seasoned with sugar for preservation.

PRE-SERV'ER, n.

1. 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 vii.
2. One that makes preserves of fruits.

PRE-SERV'ING, ppr.

Keeping safe from injury, destruction or decay; defending from evil.

PRE-SIDE, v.i. [s as z. L. præsideo; præ, before, and sedeo, to sit; It. presidere; Fr. presider; Sp. presidir.]

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 provide 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. – Dryden.

PRES'I-DEN-CY, n.

1. Superintendence; inspection and care. – Ray.
2. The office of president. Washington was elected to the presidency of the United States by a unanimous vote of the electors.
3. The term during which a president holds his office. President J. Adams died during the presidency of his son.
4. The jurisdiction of a president; as in the British dominions in the East Indies.
5. The family or suit of a president. A worthy clergyman belonging to the presidency of Fort St. George. [Qu.] – Buchanan. 251.