PREJUDICATELYPre*ju"di*cate*ly, adv.
Defn: With prejudice.
PREJUDICATIONPre*ju`di*ca"tion, n.
1. The act of prejudicating, or of judging without due examination of facts and evidence; prejudgment.
2. (Rom. Law) (a) A preliminary inquiry and determination about something which belongs to a matter in dispute. (b) A previous treatment and decision of a point; a precedent.
PREJUDICATIVEPre*ju"di*ca*tive, a.
Defn: Forming a judgment without due examination; prejudging. Dr. H.More.
PREJUDICE Prej"u*dice n. Etym: [F. préjudice, L. praejudicium; prae before + judicium judgment. See Prejudicate, Judicial.]
1. Foresight. [Obs.] Naught might hinder his quick prejudize. Spenser.
2. An opinion or judgment formed without due examination; prejudgment; a leaning toward one side of a question from other considerations than those belonging to it; an unreasonable predilection for, or objection against, anything; especially, an opinion or leaning adverse to anything, without just grounds, or before sufficient knowledge. Though often misled by prejudice and passion, he was emphatically an honest man. Macaulay.
3. (Law)
Defn: A bias on the part of judge, juror, or witness which interferes with fairness of judgment.
4. Mischief; hurt; damage; injury; detriment. Locke. England and France might, through their amity, Breed him some prejudice. Shak.
Syn. — Prejudgment; prepossession; bias; harm; hurt; damage; detriment; mischief; disadvantage.
PREJUDICEPrej"u*dice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudiced; p. pr. & vb. n.Prejudicing.] Etym: [Cf. F. préjudicier. See Prejudice, n.]
1. To cause to have prejudice; to prepossess with opinions formed without due knowledge or examination; to bias the mind of, by hasty and incorrect notions; to give an unreasonable bent to, as to one side or the other of a cause; as, to prejudice a critic or a juryman. Suffer not any beloved study to prejudice your mind so far as to despise all other learning. I. Watts
2. To obstruct or injure by prejudices, or by previous bias of the mind; hence, generally, to hurt; to damage; to injure; to impair; as, to prejudice a good cause. Seek how may prejudice the foe. Shak
PREJUDICIAL Prej`u*di"cial a. Etym: [L. praejudicialis belonging to a preceding judgment: cf. F. préjudiciel.]
1. Biased, possessed, or blinded by prejudices; as, to look with a prejudicial eye. [Obs.] Holyday.
2. Tending to obstruct or impair; hurtful; injurious; disadvantageous; detrimental. Hooker. His going away . . . was most prejudicial and most ruinous to the king's affairs. Clarendon. — Prej`u*di"cial*ly, adv. — Prej`u*di"cial*ness, n.
PREKNOWLEDGEPre*knowl"edge, n.
Defn: Prior knowledge.
PRELACYPrel"a*cy n.; pl. Prelacies. Etym: [LL. praelatia. See Prelate; cf.Prelaty.]
1. The office or dignity of a prelate; church government by prelates. Prelacies may be termed the greater benefices. Ayliffe.
2. The order of prelates, taken collectively; the body of ecclesiastical dignitaries. "Divers of the reverend prelacy, and other most judicious men." Hooker.
PRELALPre"lal, a. Etym: [L. prelum a press.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to printing; typographical. [Obs.] Fuller.
PRELATE Prel"ate (; 48), n. Etym: [F. prélat, LL. praelatus, fr. L. praelatus, used as p. p. of praeferre to prefer, but from a different root. See Elate.]
Defn: A clergyman of a superior order, as an archbishop or a bishop, having authority over the lower clergy; a dignitary of the church.
Note: This word and the words derived from it are often used invidiously, in English ecclesiastical history, by dissenters, respecting the Established Church system. Hear him but reason in divinity, . . . You would desire the king were made a prelate. Shak.
PRELATEPrel"ate, v. i.
Defn: To act as a prelate. [Obs.]Right prelating is busy laboring, and not lording. Latimer.
PRELATEITYPrel`a*te"i*ty, n.
Defn: Prelacy. [Obs.] Milton.
PRELATESHIPPrel"ate*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a prelate. Harmar.
PRELATESSPrel"a*tess, n.
Defn: A woman who is a prelate; the wife of a prelate. Milton.
PRELATIALPre*la"tial, a.
Defn: Prelatical. Beaconsfield.
PRELATIC; PRELATICALPre*lat"ic, Pre*lat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to prelates or prelacy; as, prelatical authority. Macaulay.
PRELATICALLYPre*lat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a prelatical manner; with reference to prelates. Milton.The last Georgic was a good prelude to the Æneis.
PRELATION Pre*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. praelatio: cf. F. prélation. See Prelate, and cf. Prefer.]
Defn: The setting of one above another; preference. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
PRELATISMPrel"a*tism, n.
Defn: Prelacy; episcopacy.
PRELATISTPrel"a*tist n.
Defn: One who supports of advocates prelacy, or the government of the church by prelates; hence, a high-churchman. Hume. I am an Episcopalian, but not a prelatist. T. Scott.
PRELATIZEPrel"a*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prelatized; p. pr. & vb. n.Prelatizing.]
Defn: To bring under the influence of prelacy. Palfrey.
PRELATIZEPrel"a*tize, v. i.
Defn: To uphold or encourage prelacy; to exercise prelaticalfunctions.An episcopacy that began then to prelatize. Milton.
PRELATRYPrel"a*try, n.
Defn: Prelaty; prelacy. [Obs.]
PRELATURE; PRELATURESHIP Prel"a*ture, Prel"a*ture*ship, n. Etym: [F. prélature, or LL. praelatura.]
Defn: The state or dignity of a prelate; prelacy. Milman.
PRELATYPrel"a*ty, n.
Defn: Prelacy. [Obs.] Milton.
PRELECTPre*lect" v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prelected; p. pr. & vb. n. Prelecting.]Etym: [L. praelectus, p. p. of praelegere to read before. See Pre-,and Lection.]
Defn: To read publicly, as a lecture or discourse.
PRELECTPre*lect", v. i.
Defn: To discourse publicly; to lecture.Spitting . . . was publicly prelected upon. De. Quincey.To prelect upon the military art. Bp. Horsley.
PRELECTIONPre*lec"tion, n. Etym: [L. praelectio.]
Defn: A lecture or discourse read in public or to a select company."The prelections of Faber." Sir M. Hale.
PRELECTORPre*lec"tor, n. Etym: [L. praelector.]
Defn: A reader of lectures or discourses; a lecturer. Sheldon.
PRELIBATION Pre`li*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. praelibatio, fr. praelibare to taste beforehand: cf. F. prelibation.]
1. A. tasting beforehand, or by anticipation; a foretaste; as, a prelibation of heavenly bliss.
2. A pouring out, or libation, before tasting.
PRELIMINARILYPre*lim"i*na*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a preliminary manner.
PRELIMINARY Pre*lim"i*na*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. pre + L. liminaris belonging to a threshold, fr. limen, liminis, threshold, entrance: cf. F. préliminaire. Cf. Limit.]
Defn: Introductory; previous; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory; as, preliminary observations to a discourse or book; preliminary articles to a treaty; preliminary measures; preliminary examinations.
Syn. — Introductory; preparatory; prefatory; proemial; previous; prior; precedent; antecedent.
PRELIMINARYPre*lim"i*na*ry, n.; pl. Preliminaries (.
Defn: That which precedes the main discourse, work, design, or business; something introductory or preparatory; as, the preliminaries to a negotiation or duel; to take one's preliminaries the year before entering college.
Syn.— Introduction; preface; prelude.
PRELIMITPre*lim"it, v. t.
Defn: To limit previously. [R.]
PRELOOKPre*look", v. i.
Defn: To look forward. [Obs.] Surrey.
PRELUDE Pre"lude, n. Etym: [F. prélude (cf. It. preludio, LL. praeludium), fr. L. prae before + ludus play. See Prelude, v. t.]
Defn: An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially (Mus.), a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; — with recent composers often synonymous with overture. The last Georgic was a good prelude to the Ænis Addison. The cause is more than the prelude, the effect is more than the sequel, of the fact. Whewell.
Syn. — Preface; introduction; preliminary; preamble; forerunner; harbinger; precursor.
PRELUDEPre*lude", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preluding.]Etym: [L. praeludere, praelusum; prae before + ludere to play: cf. F.préluder. See Ludicrous.]
Defn: To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatoryperformance; to serve as prelude.The musicians preluded on their instruments. Sir. W. Scott.We are preluding too largely, and must come at once to the point.Jeffrey.
PRELUDEPre*lude", v. t.
1. To introduce with a previous performance; to play or perform a prelude to; as, to prelude a concert with a lively air.
2. To serve as prelude to; to precede as introductory. [Music] preluding some great tragedy. Longfellow
PRELUDERPre*lud"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, preludes; one who plays a prelude.Mason.
PRELUDIALPre*lud"i*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a prelude; of the nature of a prelude; introductory. [R.]
PRELUDIOUSPre*lud"i*ous a.
Defn: Preludial. [R.] Dr. H. More.
PRELUMBARPre*lum"bar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated immediately in front of the loins;- applied to the dorsal part of the abdomen.
PRELUSIVEPre*lu"sive, a. Etym: [See Prelude.]
Defn: Of the nature of a prelude; introductory; indicating that something of a like kind is to follow. "Prelusive drops." Thomson. — Pre*lu"sive*ly, adv.
PRELUSORILYPre*lu"so*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a prelusory way.
PRELUSORYPre*lu"so*ry, a.
Defn: Introductory; prelusive. Bacon.
PREMATUREPre`ma*ture", a. Etym: [L. praematurus; prae before + maturus ripe.See Mature.]
1. Mature or ripe before the proper time; as, the premature fruits of a hotbed.
2. Happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper or usual time; adopted too soon; too early; untimely; as, a premature fall of snow; a premature birth; a premature opinion; premature decay.
3. Arriving or received without due authentication or evidence; as, apremature report.— Pre`ma*ture"ly, adv.— Pre`ma*ture"ness, n.
PREMATURITYPre`ma*tu"ri*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prématurité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being premature; early, or untimely, ripeness; as, the prematurity of genius.
PREMAXILLAPre"max*il"la n.; pl. Premaxillæ. Etym: [NL. See Pre-, and Maxilla.](Anat.)
Defn: A bone on either side of the middle line between the nose and mouth, forming the anterior part of each half of the upper jawbone; the intermaxilla. In man the premaxillæ become united and form the incisor part of the maxillary bone.
PREMAXILLARYPre*max"il*la*ry, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the maxillary bones; pertaining to the premaxillæ; intermaxillary. — n.
Defn: A premaxilla.
PREMEDIATEPre*me"di*ate, v. t.
Defn: To advocate. [R.]
PREMEDITATE Pre*med"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Premeditated (-ta`td); p. pr. & vb. n. Premeditating.] Etym: [L. praemeditatus, p. p. of praemeditari; prae before + meditari to meditate. See Meditate.]
Defn: To think on, and revolve in the mind, beforehand; to contrive and design previously; as, to premeditate robbery. With words premeditated thus he said. Dryden.
PREMEDITATEPre*med"i*tate, v. i.
Defn: To think, consider, deliberate, or revolve in the mind, beforehand.
PREMEDITATEPre*med"i*tate, a. Etym: [L. praemeditatus, p. p.]
Defn: Premeditated; deliberate. [Archaic] Bp. Burnet.
PREMEDITATELYPre*med"i*tate*ly, adv.
Defn: With premeditation. Burke.
PREMEDITATIONPre*med`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. praemeditatio: cf. F. préméditation.]
Defn: The act of meditating or contriving beforehand; previous deliberation; forethought.
PREMERITPre*mer"it, v. t.
Defn: To merit or deserve beforehand. [Obs.] Eikon Basi
PREMIAL; PREMIANTPre"mi*al, Pre"mi*ant, a. Etym: [L. praemialis. See Premium.]
Defn: Serving to reward; rewarding. [R.] Baxter.
PREMICESPrem"i*ces, n. pl. Etym: [F. prémices, L. primitiae. See Primitia.]
Defn: First fruits. [Obs.] Dryden.
PREMIER Pre"mi*er, a. Etym: [F. premier, fr. L. primarius of the first rank, principal, fr. primus the first. See Primary, Prime, a.]
1. First; chief; principal; as, the premier place; premier minister. Camden. Swift.
2. Most ancient; — said of the peer bearing the oldest title of his degree.
PREMIERPre"mi*er, n.
Defn: The first minister of state; the prime minister.
PREMIERE Pre*mière", a. fem. [F., prop. fem. of premier first. See Premier, a.]
Defn: First; chief; as, a première danseuse. — n. fem.; pl. -mières(F. pre*myâr").(a) The leading woman of a group, esp. in a theatrical cast.(b) A first performance, as of a play; a first night.
PREMIERSHIPPre"mi*er*ship, n.
Defn: The office of the premier.
PREMILLENNIALPre`mil*len"ni*al, a
Defn: , Previous to the millennium.
PREMIOUSPre"mi*ous, a. Etym: [L. praemiosus, fr. praemium a premium.]
Defn: Rich in gifts. [R.] Clarke.
PREMISEPrem"ise, n.; pl. Premises (. [Written also, less properly, premiss.]Etym: [F. prémisse, fr. L. praemissus, p. p. of praemittere to sendbefore; prae before + mittere to send. See Mission.]
1. A proposition antecedently supposed or proved; something previously stated or assumed as the basis of further argument; a condition; a supposition. The premises observed, Thy will by my performance shall be served. Shak.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Either of the first two propositions of a syllogism, from which the conclusion is drawn.
Note: "All sinners deserve punishment: A B is a sinner." These propositions, which are the premises, being true or admitted, the conclusion follows, that A B deserves punishment. While the premises stand firm, it is impossible to shake the conclusion. Dr. H. More.
3. pl. (Law)
Defn: Matters previously stated or set forth; esp., that part in the beginning of a deed, the office of which is to express the grantor and grantee, and the land or thing granted or conveyed, and all that precedes the habendum; the thing demised or granted.
4. pl.
Defn: A piece of real estate; a building and its adjuncts; as, to lease premises; to trespass on another's premises.
PREMISEPre*mise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Premised; p. pr. & vb. n. Premising.]Etym: [From L. praemissus, p. p., or E. premise, n. See Premise, n.]
1. To send before the time, or beforehand; hence, to cause to be before something else; to employ previously. [Obs.] The premised flames of the last day. Shak. If venesection and a cathartic be premised. E. Darwin.
2. To set forth beforehand, or as introductory to the main subject; to offer previously, as something to explain or aid in understanding what follows; especially, to lay down premises or first propositions, on which rest the subsequent reasonings. I premise these particulars that the reader may know that I enter upon it as a very ungrateful task. Addison.
PREMISEPre*mise", v. i.
Defn: To make a premise; to set forth something as a premise. Swift.
PREMISSPrem"iss, n.
Defn: Premise. Whately. I. Watts
PREMITPre*mit", v. t.
Defn: To premise. [Obs.] Donne.
PREMIUM Pre"mi*um, n.; pl. Premiums. Etym: [L. praemium, originally, what one has got before or better than others; prae before + emere to take, buy. See Redeem.]
1. A reward or recompense; a prize to be won by being before another, or others, in a competition; reward or prize to be adjudged; a bounty; as, a premium for good behavior or scholarship, for discoveries, etc. To think it not the necessity, but the premium and privilege of life, to eat and sleep without any regard to glory. Burke. The law that obliges parishes to support the poor offers a premium for the encouragement of idleness. Franklin.
2. Something offered or given for the loan of money; bonus; — sometimes synonymous with interest, but generally signifying a sum in addition to the capital. People were tempted to lend, by great premiums and large interest. Swift.
3. A sum of money paid to underwriters for insurance, or for undertaking to indemnify for losses of any kind.
4. A sum in advance of, or in addition to, the nominal or par value of anything; as, gold was at a premium; he sold his stock at a premium.
PREMOLARPre*mo"lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the molar teeth. —n.
Defn: An anterior molar tooth which has replaced a deciduous molar.See Tooth.
PREMONISHPre*mon"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Premonished; p. pr. & vb. n.Premonishing.] Etym: [Pref. pre- + monish: cf. L. praemonere.]
Defn: To forewarn; to admonish beforehand. [R.] Herrick.To teach, and to premonish. Bk. of Com. Prayer.
PREMONISHMENTPre*mon"ish*ment, n.
Defn: Previous warning or admonition; forewarning. Sir H. Wotton.
PREMONITIONPre`mo*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. praemonitio. See Premonish.]
Defn: Previous warning, notice, or information; forewarning; as, a premonition of danger.
PREMONITORPre*mon"i*tor, n. Etym: [L. praemonitor.]
Defn: One who, or that which, gives premonition.
PREMONITORYPre*mon"i*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. praemonitorius.]
Defn: Giving previous warning or notice; as, premonitory symptoms ofdisease.— Pre*mon"i*to*ri*ly, adv.
PREMONSTRANTPre*mon"strant, n.
Defn: A Premonstratensian.
PREMONSTRATE Pre*mon"strate, v. t. Etym: [L. praemonstratus, p. p. of praemonstrare; prae before + monstrate to show.]
Defn: To show beforehand; to foreshow. [R.] Herbert.
PREMONSTRATENSIAN Pre*mon`stra*ten"sian, n. Etym: [F.prémontré, fr. Prémontré, fr. L. pratum monstratum.] (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: One of a religious order of regular canons founded by St. Norbert at Prémontré, in France, in 1119. The members of the order are called also White Canons, Norbertines, and Premonstrants.
PREMONSTRATIONPre`mon*stra"tion, n. Etym: [L. praemonstratio.]
Defn: A showing beforehand; foreshowing.
PREMONSTRATORPre*mon"stra*tor, n. Etym: [L. praemonstrator.]
Defn: One who, or that which, premonstrates. [R.]
PREMORSE Pre*morse", a. Etym: [L. praemorsus, p. p. of praemordere to bite off; prae before + mordere to bite.]
Defn: Terminated abruptly, or as it bitten off. Premorse root or leaves (Bot.), such as have an abrupt, ragged, and irregular termination, as if bitten off short.
PREMOSAICPre`mo*sa"ic a.
Defn: Relating to the time before Moses; as, premosaic history.
PREMOTIONPre*mo"tion n. Etym: [Pref. pre- + motion.]
Defn: Previous motion or excitement to action.
PREMUNIREPrem`u*ni"re, n. (Law)
Defn: See Præmunire.
PREMUNITE Prem`u*nite", v. t. Etym: [L. praemunitus, p. p. of praemunire to fortify in front; prae before + munire to fortify.]
Defn: To fortify beforehand; to guard against objection. [Obs.]Fotherby.
PREMUNITIONPre`mu*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. praemunitio: cf. F. prémunition.]
Defn: The act of fortifying or guarding against objections. [Obs.]
PREMUNITORYPre*mu"ni*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a premunire; as, a premunitory process.
PRENASALPre*na"sal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the nose, or in front of the nasal chambers.
PRENATALPre*na"tal, a.
Defn: Being or happening before birth.
PRENDERPren"der, n. Etym: [F. prendre to take, fr. L. prehendere to take.](Law)
Defn: The power or right of taking a thing before it is offered.Burrill.
PRENOMENPre*no"men, n.
Defn: See Prænomen.
PRENOMINALPre*nom"i*nal, a.
Defn: Serving as a prefix in a compound name. Sir T. Browne.
PRENOMINATE Pre*nom"i*nate a. Etym: [L. praenominatus, p. p. of praenominare to give the prenomen to, to prenominate, fr. praenomen prenomen.]
Defn: Forenamed; named beforehand. [R.] "Prenominate crimes." Shak.
PRENOMINATEPre*nom"i*nate, v. t.
Defn: To forename; to name beforehand; to tell by name beforehand.Shak.
PRENOMINATIONPre*nom`i*na*tion, n.
Defn: The act of prenominating; privilege of being named first. SirT. Browne.
PRENOSTIC Pre*nos"tic, n. Etym: [L. praenoscere to foreknow; prae before + noscere, notum, to know.]
Defn: A prognostic; an omen. [Obs.] Gower.
PRENOTEPre*note", v. t. Etym: [L. praenotare; prae before + notare to note.]
Defn: To note or designate beforehand. Foxe.
PRENOTIONPre*no"tion n. Etym: [L. praenotio: cf. F. prénotion. See Prenostic.]
Defn: A notice or notion which precedes something else in time; previous notion or thought; foreknowledge. Bacon.
PRENSATION Pren*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. prensatio, from prensare, prehensare, v. freq. from prehendere to seize.]
Defn: The act of seizing with violence. [Obs.] Barrow .
PRENTICEPren"tice, n. Etym: [Aphetic form of apprentice.]
Defn: An apprentice. [Obs. or Colloq.] Piers Plowman. "My accuser is my prentice." Shak.
PRENTICEHOODPren"tice*hood (, n.
Defn: Apprenticehood. [Obs.] This jolly prentice with his master bode Till he was out nigh of his prenticehood. Chaucer.
PRENTICESHIPPren"tice*ship, n.
Defn: Apprenticeship. [Obs. or Colloq.]He served a prenticeship who sets up shop. Pope.
PRENUNCIATION Pre*nun`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. praenunciatio, fr. praenunciare to announce beforehand. See Pre-, and Announce.]
Defn: The act of announcing or proclaiming beforehand. [Obs.]
PRENUNCIOUSPre*nun"cious, a. Etym: [L. praenuncius.]
Defn: Announcing beforehand; presaging. [Obs.] Blount.
PREOBLONGATAPre*ob`lon*ga"ta, n. Etym: [NL. See Pre-, and Oblongata.] (Anat.)
Defn: The anterior part of the medulla oblongata. B. G. Wilder.
PREOBTAINPre`ob*tain", v. t.
Defn: To obtain beforehand.
PREOCCUPANCYPre*oc"cu*pan*cy, n. Etym: [See Preoccupate.]
Defn: The act or right of taking possession before another; as, the preoccupancy of wild land.
PREOCCUPATE Pre*oc"cu*pate, v. t. Etym: [L. praeoccupatus, p. p. of praeoccupare to preoccupy. See Preoccupy.]
1. To anticipate; to take before. [Obs.] "Fear preoccupateth it [death]." Bacon.
2. To prepossess; to prejudice. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
PREOCCUPATIONPre*oc`cu*pa"tion, n. Etym: [L. praeoccupatio: cf. F. préoccupation.]
1. The act of preoccupying, or taking possession of beforehand; the state of being preoccupied; prepossession.
2. Anticipation of objections. [R.] South.
PREOCCUPYPre*oc"cu*py, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preoccupied (-pid); p. pr. & vb. n.Preoccupying.] Etym: [Cf. F. préoccuper. See Preoccupate, Occupy.]
1. To take possession of before another; as, to preoccupy a country not before held.
2. To prepossess; to engage, occupy, or engross the attention of, beforehand; hence, to prejudice. I Think it more respectful to the reader to leave something to reflections than to preoccupy his judgment. Arbuthnot.
PREOCULARPre*oc"u*lar, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Placed just in front of the eyes, as the antennæ of certain insects. — n.
Defn: One of the scales just in front of the eye of a reptile or fish.
PREOMINATEPre*om"i*nate, v. t.
Defn: To ominate beforehand; to portend. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PREOPERCULARPre`o*per"cu*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the operculum; pertaining to the preoperculum. — n.
Defn: The preoperculum.
PREOPERCULUMPre`o*per"cu*lum, n Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)
Defn: The anterior opercular bone in fishes.
PREOPINIONPre`o*pin"ion, n.
Defn: Opinion previously formed; prepossession; prejudice. Sir T.Browne.
PREOPTIONPre*op"tion, n.
Defn: Right of first choice.
PREORALPre*o"ral, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of, or anterior to, the mouth; as, preoral bands.
PREORBITALPre*or"bit*al
Defn: a. (Anat.) Situated in front or the orbit.
PREORDAINPre`or*dain", v. t. Etym: [Pref. pre + ordain: cf. L. praeordinare.]
Defn: To ordain or appoint beforehand: to predetermine: to foreordain. Milton.
PREORDERPre*or"der, v. t.
Defn: To order to arrange beforehand; to foreordain. Sir W. Hamilton.
PREORDINANCEPre*or"di*nance, n.
Defn: Antecedent decree or determination. Shak.
PREORDINATEPre*or"di*nate, a. Etym: [L. praeordinatus, p. p. See Preordain.]
Defn: Preordained. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.
PREORDINATIONPre*or`di*na"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. préordination.]
Defn: The act of foreordaining: previous determination. "The preordination of God." Bale.
PREPARABLEPre*par"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being prepared. "Medicine preparable by art." Boyle.
PREPARATIONPrep`a*ra"tion, n. Etym: [F. préparation, L. praeparatio. SeePrepare.]
1. The act of preparing or fitting beforehand for a particular purpose, use, service, or condition; previous arrangement or adaptation; a making ready; as, the preparation of land for a crop of wheat; the preparation of troops for a campaign.
2. The state of being prepared or made ready; preparedness; readiness; fitness; as, a nation in good preparation for war.
3. That which makes ready, prepares the way, or introduces; a preparatory act or measure. I will show what preparations there were in nature for this dissolution. T. Burnet.
4. That which is prepared, made, or compounded by a certain process or for a particular purpose; a combination. Specifically: (a) Any medicinal substance fitted for use. (b) Anything treated for preservation or examination as a specimen. (c) Something prepared for use in cookery. I wish the chemists had been more sparing who magnify their preparations. Sir T. Browne. In the preparations of cookery, the most volatile parts of vegetables are destroyed. Arbuthnot.
5. An army or fleet. [Obs.] Shak.
6. (Mus.)
Defn: The holding over of a note from one chord into the next chord, where it forms a temporary discord, until resolved in the chord that follows; the anticipation of a discordant note in the preceding concord, so that the ear is prepared for the shock. See Suspension.
7. Accomplishment; qualification. [Obs.] Shak.
PREPARATIVEPre*par"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. préparatif.]
Defn: Tending to prepare or make ready; having the power of preparing, qualifying, or fitting; preparatory. Laborious quest of knowledge preparative to this work. South.
PREPARATIVEPre*par"a*tive, n.
1. That which has the power of preparing, or previously fitting for a purpose; that which prepares. "A preparative unto sermons." Hooker.
2. That which is done in the way of preparation. "Necessary preparatives for our voyage." Dryden.
PREPARATIVELYPre*par"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of preparation.
PREPARATORPre*par"a*tor, n. Etym: [L. praeparator.]
Defn: One who prepares beforehand, as subjects for dissection, specimens for preservation in collections, etc. Agassiz.
PREPARATORYPre*par"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. praeparatorius: cf. F. préparatoire.]
Defn: Preparing the way for anything by previous measures of adaptation; antecedent and adapted to what follows; introductory; preparative; as, a preparatory school; a preparatory condition.
PREPAREPre*pare", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prepare; p. pr. & vb. n. Preparing.]Etym: [F. préparer, L. praeparare; prae before + parare to makeready. See Pare.]
1. To fit, adapt, or qualify for a particular purpose or condition; to make ready; to put into a state for use or application; as, to prepare ground for seed; to prepare a lesson. Our souls, not yet prepared for upper light. Dryden.
2. To procure as suitable or necessary; to get ready; to provide; as, to prepare ammunition and provisions for troops; to prepare ships for defence; to prepare an entertainment. Milton. That they may prepare a city for habitation. Ps. cvii. 36
Syn. — To fit; adjust; adapt; qualify; equip; provide; form; make; make; ready.
PREPAREPre*pare" (, v. i.
1. To make all things ready; to put things in order; as, to prepare for a hostile invasion. "Bid them prepare for dinner." Shak.
2. To make one's self ready; to get ready; to take the necessary previous measures; as, to prepare for death.
PREPAREPre*pare", n.
Defn: Preparation. [Obs.] Shak.
PREPAREDPre*pared", a.
Defn: Made fit or suitable; adapted; ready; as, prepared food;prepared questions.— Pre*par"ed*ly, adv. Shak.— Pre*par"ed*ness, n.
PREPARERPre*par"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, prepares, fits, or makes ready. Wood.
PREPAYPre*pay", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prepaid; p. pr. & vb. n. Prepaying.]
Defn: To pay in advance, or beforehand; as, to prepay postage.
PREPAYMENTPre*pay"ment, n.
Defn: Payment in advance.
PREPENIALPre*pe"ni*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of, or anterior to, the penis.
PREPENSEPre*pense", v. t. Etym: [Pref. pre + F. penser to think. See Pansy.]
Defn: To weigh or consider beforehand; to premeditate. [Obs.]Spenser. Sir T. Elyot.
PREPENSEPre*pense", v. i.
Defn: To deliberate beforehand. [Obs.]
PREPENSEPre*pense", a. Etym: [See Pansy, and cf. Prepense, v. t.]
Defn: Devised, contrived, or planned beforehand; preconceived; premeditated; aforethought; — usually placed after the word it qualifies; as, malice prepense. This has not arisen from any misrepresentation or error prepense. Southey.
PREPENSELYPre*pense"ly, adv.
Defn: In a premeditated manner.
PREPOLLENCE; PREPOLLENCYPre*pol"lence, Pre*pol"len*cy, n. Etym: [L. praepollentia.]
Defn: The quality or state of being prepollent; superiority of power; predominance; prevalence. [R.] Coventry.
PREPOLLENT Pre*pol"lent, a. Etym: [L. praepollens, p. p. of praepollere to surpass in power; prae before + pollere to be powerful.]
Defn: Having superior influence or power; prevailing; predominant.[R.] Boyle.
PREPOLLENTPre*pol"lent, n.; pl. Prepollices Etym: [NL. See Pre-, Pollex.](Anat.)
Defn: An extra first digit, or rudiment of a digit, on the preaxial side of the pollex.
PREPONDERPre*pon"der v. t.
Defn: To preponderate [Obs.]
PREPONDERANCE; PREPONDERANCYPre*pon"der*ance, Pre*pon"der*an*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prépondérance.]
1. The quality or state of being preponderant; superiority or excess of weight, influence, or power, etc.; an outweighing. The mind should . . . reject or receive proportionably to the preponderancy of the greater grounds of probability. Locke. In a few weeks he had changed the relative position of all the states in Europe, and had restored the equilibrium which the preponderance of one power had destroyed. Macaulay.
2. (Gun.)
Defn: The excess of weight of that part of a canon behind the trunnions over that in front of them.
PREPONDERANT Pre*pon"der*ant a. Etym: [L. praeponderans, -antis: cf. F. prépondérant. See Preponderate.]
Defn: Preponderating; outweighing; overbalancing; — used literallyand figuratively; as, a preponderant weight; of preponderantimportance.— Pre*pon"der*ant*ly, adv.
PREPONDERATEPre*pon"der*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preponderated; p. pr. & vb. n.Preponderating.] Etym: [L. praeponderatus, p. p. of praeponderare;prae before + ponderare to weigh, fr., pondus, ponderis, a weight.See Ponder.]
1. To outweigh; to overpower by weight; to exceed in weight; to overbalance. An inconsiderable weight, by distance from the center of the balance, will preponderate greater magnitudes. Glanvill.
2. To overpower by stronger or moral power.
3. To cause to prefer; to incline; to decide. [Obs.] The desire to spare Christian blood preponderates him for peace. Fuller.
PREPONDERATEPre*pon"der*ate, v. i.
Defn: To exceed in weight; hence, to incline or descend, as the scale of a balance; figuratively, to exceed in influence, power, etc.; hence; to incline to one side; as, the affirmative side preponderated. That is no just balance in which the heaviest side will not preponderate. Bp. Wilkins.
PREPONDERATINGLYPre*pon"der*a`ting*ly, adv.
Defn: In a preponderating manner; preponderantly.
PREPONDERATIONPre*pon`der*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. praeponderatio.]
Defn: The act or state of preponderating; preponderance; as, a preponderation of reasons. I. Watts.
PREPOSE Pre*pose", v. t. Etym: [F. préposer; pref. pré- (L. prae before) + poser. See Pose.]
Defn: To place or set before; to prefix. [Obs.] Fuller.
PREPOSITIONPrep`o*si"tion, n. Etym: [L. praepositio, fr. praeponere to placebefore; prae before + ponere to put, place: cf. F. préposition. SeePosition, and cf. Provost.]
1. (Gram.)
Defn: A word employed to connect a noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word; a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word; — so called because usually placed before the word with which it is phrased; as, a bridge of iron; he comes from town; it is good for food; he escaped by running.
2. A proposition; an exposition; a discourse. [Obs.] He made a long preposition and oration. Fabyan.
PREPOSITIONALPrep`o*si"tion*al a. Etym: [Cf. F. prépositionnel.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a preposition; of the nature of apreposition. Early.— Prep`o*si"tion*al*ly, adv.
PREPOSITIVEPre*pos"i*tive, a. Etym: [L. praepositivus: cf. F. prépositif.](Gram.)
Defn: Put before; prefixed; as, a prepositive particle.— n.
Defn: A prepositive word. Tooke.
PREPOSITORPre*pos"i*tor, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: A scholar appointed to inspect other scholars; a monitor. Todd.
PREPOSITUREPre*pos"i*ture, n. Etym: [L. praepositura. See Preposition, and cf.Provost.]
Defn: The office or dignity of a provost; a provostship. Lowth.
PREPOSSESSPre`pos*sess", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prepossessed; p. pr. & vb. n.Prepossessing.]
1. To preoccupy, as ground or land; to take previous possession of. Dryden.
2. To preoccupy, as the mind or heart, so as to preclude other things; hence, to bias or prejudice; to give a previous inclination to, for or against anything; esp., to induce a favorable opinion beforehand, or at the outset. It created him enemies, and prepossessed the lord general. Evelyn.
PREPOSSESSINGPre`pos*sess"ing, a.
Defn: Tending to invite favor; attracting confidence, favor, esteem, or love; attractive; as, a prepossessing manner. — Pre`pos*sess"ing*ly, adv.
PREPOSSESSIONPre`pos*ses"sion, n.
1. Preoccupation; prior possession. Hammond.
2. Preoccupation of the mind by an opinion, or impression, already formed; preconceived opinion; previous impression; bias; — generally, but not always, used in a favorable sense; as, the prepossessions of childhood. "The prejudices and prepossessions of the country." Sir W. Scott.
Syn.— Bent; bias; inclination; preoccupancy; prejudgment. See Bent.
PREPOSSESSORPre`*pos*sess"or, n.
Defn: One who possesses, or occupies, previously. R. Brady.
PREPOSTEROUS Pre*pos"ter*ous a.Etym: [L. praeposterus; prae before + posterus coming after, latter. See Posterior.]
1. Having that first which ought to be last; inverted in order. [Obs.] The method I take may be censured as preposterous, because I thus treat last of the antediluvian earth, which was first in the order of nature. Woodward.
2. Contrary to nature or reason; not adapted to the end; utterly and glaringly foolish; unreasonably absurd; perverted. "Most preposterous conclusions." Shak. Preposterous ass, that never read so far! Shak.
Syn.— Absurd; perverted; wrong; irrational; foolish; monstrous. SeeAbsurd.— Pre*pos"ter*ous*ly, adv. -Pre*pos"ter*ous*ness, n.
PREPOSTORPre*pos"tor n.
Defn: See Prepositor.
PREPOTENCYPre*po"ten*cy, n. Etym: [L. praepotentia: cf. F. prépotence.]
1. The quality or condition of being prepotent; predominance. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: The capacity, on the part of one of the parents, as compared with the other, to transmit more than his or her own share of characteristics to their offspring.
PREPOTENTPre*po"tent a. Etym: [L. praepotens. See Pre-, and Potent.]
1. Very powerful; superior in force, influence, or authority; predominant. Plaifere.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Characterized by prepotency. Darwin.
PREPROVIDEPre`pro*vide", v. t.
Defn: To provide beforehand. "The materials preprovided." Fuller.
PREPUBICPre*pu"bic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of, or anterior to, the pubis; pertaining to the prepubis.
PREPUBISPre*pu"bis, n. Etym: [NL. See Pre-, and Pubis.] (Anat.)
Defn: A bone or cartilage, of some animals, situated in the middle line in front of the pubic bones.
PREPUCEPre"puce, n. Etym: [F. prépuce, L. praeputium.] (Anat.)
Defn: The foreskin.
PREPUTIALPre*pu"tial, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the prepuce.
PRERAPHAELISM; PRERAPHAELITISMPre*raph"a*el*ism, Pre*raph"a*el*i`tism, n. (Fine Arts)
Defn: The doctrine or practice of a school of modern painters who profess to be followers of the painters before Raphael. Its adherents advocate careful study from nature, delicacy and minuteness of workmanship, and an exalted and delicate conception of the subject.
PRERAPHAELITEPre*raph"a*el*ite, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the style called preraphaelitism; as, a preraphaelite figure; a preraphaelite landscape. Ruskin.
PRERAPHAELITEPre*raph"a*el*ite, n.
Defn: One who favors or practices art as it was before Raphael; one who favors or advocates preraphaelitism.
PRE-RAPHAELITEPre-Raph"a*el*ite, n.
Defn: Popularly, any modern artist thought to be a would-be restorer of early ideas or methods, as one of the German painters often called Nazarenes, or one who paints and draws with extreme minuteness of detail.
PREREGNANTPre*reg"nant, n.
Defn: One who reigns before another; a sovereign predecessor. [R.]Warner.
PREREMOTEPre`re*mote a.
Defn: More remote in previous time or prior order. In some cases two more links of causation may be introduced; one of them may be termed the preremote cause, the other the postremote effect. E. Darwin.
PREREQUIREPre`re*quire", v. t.
Defn: To require beforehand.Some things are prerequired of us. Bp. Hall.
PREREQUISITEPre*req"ui*site, a.
Defn: Previously required; necessary as a preliminary to any proposed effect or end; as, prerequisite conditions of success.
PREREQUISITEPre*req"ui*site, n.
Defn: Something previously required, or necessary to an end or effectproposed.The necessary prerequisites of freedom. Goldsmith.
PRERESOLVEPre`re*solve", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Preresolved; p. pr. & vb. n.Preresolving.]
Defn: To resolve beforehand; to predetermine. Sir E. Dering.
PREROGATIVE Pre*rog"a*tive, n. Etym: [F. prérogative, from L. praerogativa precedence in voting, preference, privilege, fr. praerogativus that is asked before others for his opinion, that votes before or first, fr. praerogare to ask before another; prae before + rogare to ask. See Rogation.]
1. An exclusive or peculiar privilege; prior and indefeasible right; fundamental and essential possession; — used generally of an official and hereditary right which may be asserted without question, and for the exercise of which there is no responsibility or accountability as to the fact and the manner of its exercise. The two faculties that are the prerogative of man — the powers of abstraction and imagination. I. Taylor. An unconstitutional exercise of his prerogative. Macaulay.
2. Precedence; preëminence; first rank. [Obs.] Then give me leave to have prerogative. Shak.
Note: The term came into general use in the conflicts between the Crown and Parliaments of Great Britain, especially in the time of the Stuarts. Prerogative Court (Eng. Law), a court which formerly had authority in the matter of wills and administrations, where the deceased left bona notabilia, or effects of the value of five pounds, in two or more different dioceses. Blackstone. — Prerogative office, the office in which wills proved in the Prerogative Court were registered.
Syn.— Privilege; right. See Privilege.
PREROGATIVEDPre*rog"a*tived, a.
Defn: Endowed with a prerogative, or exclusive privilege. [R.] Shak.
PREROGATIVELYPre*rog"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By prerogative.
PRESAGEPre"sage, n. Etym: [F. présage, L. praesagium, from praesagire. SeePresage, v. t. ]
1. Something which foreshows or portends a future event; a prognostic; an omen; an augury. "Joy and shout — presage of victory." Milton.
2. Power to look the future, or the exercise of that power; foreknowledge; presentiment. If there be aught of presage in the mind. Milton.
Syn.— Prognostic; omen; token; sign; presentiment.
PRESAGEPre*sage" v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presaged (-sajd"); p. pr. & vb. n.Presaging. ] Etym: [F. présager, L. praesagire: prae before + sagireto perceive acutely or sharply. See Sagacious.]
1. To have a presentiment of; to feel beforehand; to foreknow.
2. To foretell; to predict; to foreshow; to indicate. My dreams presage some joyful news at hand. Shak.
PRESAGEPre*sage", v. i.
Defn: To form or utter a prediction; — sometimes used with of.Dryden.
PRESAGEFULPre*sage"ful a.
Defn: Full of presages; ominous.Dark in the glass of some presageful mood. Tennyson.
PRESAGEMENTPre*sage"ment, n.
1. The act or art of presaging; a foreboding. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
2. That which is presaged, or foretold. [R.] "Ominous presagement before his end. " Sir H. Wotton.
PRESAGERPre*sa"ger n.
Defn: One who, or that which, presages; a foreteller; a foreboder.Shak.
PRESAGIOUSPre*sa"gious, a.
Defn: Foreboding; ominous. [Obs.]
PRESBYOPEPres"by*ope, n. (Med.)
Defn: One who has presbyopia; a farsighted person.
PRESBYOPIAPres`by*o"pi*a Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A defect of vision consequent upon advancing age. It is due to rigidity of the crystalline lens, which producepresbytia.
PRESBYOPICPres`by*op"ic a.
Defn: Affected by presbyopia; also, remedying presbyopia; farsighted.
PRESBYOPYPres"by*o`py n. Etym: [Cf. F. presbyopie.]
Defn: See Presbyopia.
PRESBYTEPres"byte, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Same as Presbyope.
PRESBYTERPres"by*ter, n. Etym: [L. an elder, fr. Gr. Priest.]
1. An elder in the early Christian church. See 2d Citation under Bishop, n., 1.
2. (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.)
Defn: One ordained to the second order in the ministry; — calledalso priest.I rather term the one sort presbyter than priest. Hooker.New presbyter is but old priest writ large. Milton.
3. (Presbyterian Ch.)
Defn: A member of a presbytery whether lay or clerical.
4. A Presbyterian. [Obs.] Hudibras.
PRESBYTERALPres*byt"er*al a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a presbyter or presbytery; presbyterial.
PRESBYTERATEPres*byt"er*ate n. Etym: [L. presbyteratus: cf. F. presbytérat.]
Defn: A presbytery; also, presbytership. Heber.
PRESBYTERESSPres"by*ter*ess, n.
Defn: A female presbyter. Bale.
PRESBYTERIALPres`by*te"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. presbytéral.]
Defn: Presbyterian. "Presbyterial government." Milton.
PRESBYTERIANPres`by*te"ri*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. presbytérien.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a presbyter, or to ecclesiastical government by presbyters; relating to those who uphold church government by presbyters; also, to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of a communion so governed.
PRESBYTERIANPres`by*te"ri*an, n. Etym: [Cf. F. presbytérien.]
Defn: One who maintains the validity of ordination and government by presbyters; a member of the Presbyterian church. Reformed Presbyterians. See Cameronian.
PRESBYTERIANISMPres`by*te"ri*an*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. presbytérianisme.]
Defn: That form of church government which invests presbyters with all spiritual power, and admits no prelates over them; also, the faith and polity of the Presbyterian churches, taken collectively.
PRESBYTERIUMPres`by*te"ri*um, n. Etym: [L.] (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Presbytery, 4.
PRESBYTERSHIPPres"by*ter*ship, n.
Defn: The office or station of a presbyter; presbyterate.
PRESBYTERYPres"by*ter*y, n.; pl. Presbyteries. Etym: [L. presbyterium, Gr.Presbyter, and cf. Presbyterium.]
1. A body of elders in the early Christian church.
2. (Presbyterian Ch.)
Defn: A judicatory consisting of all the ministers within a certain district, and one layman, who is a ruling elder, from each parish or church, commissioned to represent the church in conjunction with the pastor. This body has a general jurisdiction over the churches under its care, and next below the provincial synod in authority.
3. The Presbyterian religion of polity. [R.] Tatler.
4. (a) (Arch.) That part of the church reserved for the officiating priest. (b) The residence of a priest or clergyman. Gwilt.
PRESBYTIAPres*byt"i*a n. Etym: [NL. See Presbyte.] (Med.)
Defn: Presbyopia.
PRESBYTICPres*byt"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Presbyopic.
PRESBYTISMPres"byt*ism, n.
Defn: Presbyopia.
PRESCAPULAPre*scap"u*la, n. Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)
Defn: The part of the scapula in front of, or above, the spine, or mesoscapula.
PRESCAPULARPre*scap"u*lar, a.
Defn: (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the prescapula; supraspinous.
PRESCIENCEPre"sci*ence n. Etym: [F. prescience, L. praescientia. SeePrescient.]
Defn: Knowledge of events before they take place; foresight.God's certain prescience of the volitions of moral agents. J.Edwards.
PRESCIENTPresci*ent, a. Etym: [L. praesciens, -entis, p. pr. of praescire toforeknow; prae before + scire to know: cf. F. prescient. SeeScience.]
Defn: Having knowledge of coming events; foreseeing; consciousbeforehand. Pope.Henry . . . had shown himself sensible, and almost prescient, of thisevent. Bacon.
PRESCIENTLYPre"sci*ent*ly, adv.
Defn: With presciense or foresight.
PRESCIND Pre*scind", v. t. Etym: [L. praescindere to cut off in front; prae before + scindere to cut asunder: cf. F. prescinder.]
1. To cut off; to abstract. [Obs.] Norris.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: To consider by a separate act of attention or analysis. Sir W.Hamilton.
PRESCINDENT Pre*scind"ent, a. Etym: [L. praescius; prae before + scius knowing, fr. scire to know.]
Defn: Cutting off; abstracting. [R.] Cheyne.
PRESCIOUS Pre"scious (pre"shus), a. [L. praescius; prae before + scius knowing, fr. scire to know.]
Defn: Foreknowing; having foreknowledge; as, prescious of ills. [R.]Dryden.
PRESCRIBEPre*scribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prescribed; p. pr & vb. n.Prescribing.] Etym: [L. praescribere, praescriptum; prae before +scriebe to write. See Scribe.]
1. To lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action; to impose as a peremptory order; to dictate; to appoint; to direct. Prescribe not us our duties. Shak. Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run. Dryden.
2. (Med.)
Defn: To direct, as a remedy to be used by a patient; as, the doctor prescribed quinine.
Syn. — To appoint; order; command; dictate; ordain; institute; establish.
PRESCRIBEPre*scribe", v. i.
1. To give directions; to dictate. A forwardness to prescribe to their opinions. Locke.
2. To influence by long use [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
3. (Med.)
Defn: To write or to give medical directions; to indicate remedies; as, to prescribe for a patient in a fever.
4. (Law)
Defn: To claim by prescription; to claim a title to a thing on the ground of immemorial use and enjoyment, that is, by a custom having the force of law.
PRESCRIBERPre*scrib"er, n.
Defn: One who prescribes.
PRESCRIPT Pre"script, a. Etym: [L. praescriptus, p. p. of praescribere: cf. F. prescrit. See Prescribe.]
Defn: Directed; prescribed. " A prescript from of words." Jer.Taylor.
PRESCRIPTPre"script, n. Etym: [L. praescriptum: cf. OF. prescript.]
1. Direction; precept; model prescribed. Milton.
2. A medical prescription. [Obs.] Bp. Fell.
PRESCRIPTIBILITYPre*scrip`ti*bil"i*ty, n
Defn: , The quality or state of being prescriptible. Story.
PRESCRIPTIBLEPre*scrip"ti*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. prescriptible. ]
Defn: Depending on, or derived from, prescription; proper to be prescribed. Grafton.
PRESCRIPTION Pre*scrip"tion, n. Etym: [F. prescription, L. praescriptio,an inscription, preface, precept, demurrer, prescription (in sense 3), fr. praescribere. See Prescribe.]