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PRECESSOR

equinoctial points, viz., from east to west, or contrary to the order of the signs. The equinoctial points do not retain the same position in the heavens, but have a slow retrograde motion at the rate of about 501" in a year, or about a degree in 71 642 years, the equator moving on the ecliptic while the ecliptic remains nearly coincident with the same fixed stars. This phenomenon is caused by the combined action of the sun and moon on the mass of matter accumulated about the earth's equator, and is called the precession of the equinoxes, because it makes the equinoxes succeed each other in less time than they would otherwise do. In consequence of the precession of the equinoxes, the longitudes and right ascensions of the heavenly bodies are continually increasing, and owing to the motion of the equator, which occasions that precession, their declinations also are altered.

The precession

of the equinoxes was discovered by Hipparchus a century and a half before the Christian era, though it is alleged that the astronomers of India had discovered it long before. At that time the point of the autumnal equinox was about 6° to the eastward of the star called Spica Virginis. In 1750, that is, about 1900 years after, this point was observed to be about 26° 21' westward of that star. Hence it appears that the equinoctial points will make an entire revolution in about 25,745 years. Precessort (pre-ses'ér), n. [L. pre, before, and cedo, to depart.] A predecessor. Fuller. Precinct (pré'singt), n. [L. præcingo, præcinctum, to encompass-præ, before, and cingo, to surround or gird.] 1. The boundary or exterior line encompassing a place; a bound; a limit; a border; some portion of a space within a boundary. Without the precincts of paradise.' Glanville. 'Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day.' Gray. 2. A district within certain boundaries; a minor territorial or jurisdictional division.

They might safely be tyrants within the precinct of the court, but it was necessary for them to watch with constant anxiety the temper of the country. Macaulay. Preciosity+ (pre-shi-os'i-ti), n. 1. Value; preciousness.-2. Anything of high price or value. Dr. H. More.

Precious (pre'shus), a. [Fr. précieux, L. pretiosus, from pretium, price. See PRAISE.] 1. Of great price; costly.

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it. Prov. xvii. 8.

2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; much esteemed.

Madam, he swore that he did hold me dear
As precious eyesight.

Love's too precious to be lost.

Shak. Tennyson.

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It's hard enough to see one's way, a precious sight harder than I thought last night. T. Hughes.

5. Fastidious; overnice. Chaucer. - Precious metals, gold and silver: so called on account of their value. -Precious stones, jewels, gems.

Precious (pre'shus), adv. Very. If he don't come precious soon.' Dickens. 'Precious hard luck.' Lever. [Colloq.] Preciously (pre'shus-li), adv. 1. In a precious manner; valuably; to a great price.2. Very much; very far. [Colloq.] Preciousness (pre'shus-nes), n. The quality of being precious; valuableness; great value; high price.

Its preciousness equalled the price of pearls. Bp. Wilkins. Precipe (pre'si-pē), n. Same as Præcipe. Precipice (pres'i-pis), n. [Fr. précipice, from L. præcipitium, a falling headlong, a precipice or steep place, from præceps, headlong-pra, forward, and ceps, from caput, head.] 1. A sudden or headlong fall. 'Whose precipice they suspected.' Fuller. -2. A headlong declivity; a very steep place; a bank or cliff extremely steep, or quite perpendicular or overhanging. Where wealth like fruit on precipices grew.' Dryden. Went slipping down horrible precipices.' Tennyson.

You take a precipice for no leap of danger,
And woo your own destruction.

Shak.

3. The brink of a precipice. "To walk upon a precipice, to be always upon the very border of destruction.' South.

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Precipient (pre-sip'i-ent), a. [L. præcipiens. See PRECEPT.] Commanding; directing. Precipitability (pre-sip'i-ta-bil"i-ti),n. The quality or state of being precipitable. Precipitable (pre-sip'i-ta-bl), a. Capable of being precipitated or cast to the bottom, as a substance in solution.

Precipitance, Precipitancy (pre-sip'i-tans, pre-sip'i-tan-si), n. [From precipitant.] The quality of being precipitant; headlong hurry; rash haste; haste in resolving, forming an opinion, or executing a purpose. 'Hurried

on by the precipitance of youth.' Swift. Rashness and precipitance of judgment.' Watts.

Thither they haste with glad precipitancy. Milton. SYN. Hastiness, hurry, rashness, temerity. Precipitant (pre-sip'i-tant), a. [L. præcipitans, præcipitantis, ppr. of præcipito, from præceps, headlong. See PRECIPICE.] 1. Falling or rushing headlong; rushing down with velocity. His flight precipitant.' Milton.2. Precipitate; hasty; urged with violent haste; rashly hurried or hasty.

Eikon Basilike.

Should he return, that troop so blithe and bold, Precipitant in fear, would wing their flight. Pope. The commotions in Ireland were so sudden and so violent, that it was hard to discern the rise, or apply a remedy to that precipitant rebellion, Precipitant (pre-sip'i-tant), n. In chem. a substance which, when added to a solution, separates what is dissolved and makes it precipitate, or fall to the bottom in a concrete state.

Precipitantly (prē-sip'i-tant-li), adv. In a precipitant or precipitate manner; with great haste; with rash unadvised haste; with tumultuous hurry. Milton. Precipitantness (pre-sip'i-tant-nes), n. Quality of being precipitant. Precipitate (pre-sip'i-tāt), v.t. pret. & pp. precipitated; ppr. precipitating. [L. præcipito, from præceps, headlong. See PRECIPICE.] 1. To throw headlong; to cast down from a precipice or height; as, he precipitated himself from a rock.

They were wont, upon a superstition, to precipitate a man from some high cliff into the sea.

Bp. Wilkins.

2. To urge or press with eagerness or violence; to hasten; as, to precipitate a flight.

Her royal benefactor she recalls,

Back to his sight precipitates her steps. Glover. Short intermittent and swift recurrent pains do Harvey. precipitate patients into consumptions.

3. To hurry blindly or rashly; to hasten or urge on too quickly.

If they be daring, it may precipitate their designs and prove dangerous. Bacon.

4. To throw to the bottom of a vessel, as a substance in solution.

The light vapour of the preceding evening had been precipitated by the cold. Irving. Precipitate (prē-sip'i-tāt), v.i. 1.† To fall headlong.

Had'st thou been aught but goss'mer, feathers, air,
So many fathoms down precipitating,
Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg.
Shak.

2. To make great haste; to hurry. Bacon. 3. To fall to the bottom of a vessel, as sediment or any substance in solution. Precipitate (prē-sip'i-tāt), a. 1. Falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent; headlong.

Precipitate the furious torrent flows.

Prior.

2. Overhasty; rashly hasty; as, the king was too precipitate in declaring war. 3. Adopted with haste or without due deliberation; hasty; hurried; headlong; as, a precipitate measure. Blinded by the rapidity of our too precipitate course.' Landor. 4. Rapidly running its course; short and violent. The most precipitate case I ever knew, having cut him off in three days.' Arbuthnot. Precipitate (pre-sip'i-tāt), n. In chem. any matter or substance, which, having been dissolved in a fluid, falls to the bottom of the vessel on the addition of some other substance capable of producing a decomposition of the compound. The term is generally applied when the separation takes place in a flocculent or pulverulent form, in opposition to crystallization, which implies a like separation in an angular form. But chemists call a mass of crystals a precipitate when they subside so suddenly that their proper crystalline shape cannot be distinguished by the naked eye. Substances which fall or settle down, as earthy matter in water, are called sediments, the operating cause being mechanical and not chemical.-Precipitate per se,

PRECISIAN

red precipitate, red oxide or peroxide of mercury-Sweet precipitate, chloride of mercury or calomel.-White precipitate, ammoniated subchloride of mercury.

[L.

Precipitately (pré-sip'i-tat-li), adv. In a precipitate manner; headlong; hastily. Those who vent praise or censure too precipitately.' Swift. Precipitation (pré-sip'i-ta"shon), n. præcipitatio.] 1. The act of precipitating. or state of being precipitated. In peril of precipitation from off the rock.' Shak. 2. A falling, flowing, or rushing down with violence and rapidity. The hurry, precipitation, and rapid motion of the water.' Woodward.-3. Great hurry; rash, tumultuous haste; rapid movement.

The precipitation of inexperience is often restrained by shame. Johnson.

4. In chem. the process of decomposition by which any substance is made to separate from another or others in a solution, and fall to the bottom.

Precipitator (prē-sip'i-tā-tér), n. One who precipitates or urges on with vehemence or rashness. The hasteners and precipitators of the destruction of that kingdom." Hammond.

Precipitious (pres-i-pi'shus), a. Precipitous. 'To keep them from any such precipitious and impertinent rupture.' Reli quia Wottonianæ. Precipitiously t (pres-i-pi'shus-li), adv. Precipitously. Headlong riot precipitiously will on.' Dr. H. More. Precipitous (pre-sip'i-tus), a. [L. præceps, præcipitis, headlong. See PRECIPICE.] 1. Very steep; as, a precipitous cliff or mountain. Hills as steep as they could be without being precipitous.' Sir W. Scott.2. Headlong; directly or rapidly descending; as, a precipitous fall.-3. † Hasty; rash; sudden; precipitate. Advice unsafe, precipitous, and bold.' Dryden. Precipitously (pre-sip'i-tus-li), adv. In a precipitous manner; with steep descent; in violent haste.

Precipitousness (pre-sip'i-tus-nes), n. The state or quality of being precipitous; as, (a) steepness of descent. (b) Rash haste. Hammond.

Precis (pra-sē), n. [Fr. précis, precise, also an abstract.] A concise or abridged statement or view; a summary; an abstract; also, the practice of drawing up such. Containing in the moderate compass of two folio pages the precis of a supplementary quarto manuscript.' Sir W. Scott. Precise (pre-sis'), a. [L. præcisus, from præcido, to cut off-pra, before, and cado, to cut; lit. cut or pared away, that is, pared to smoothness or exactness.] 1. Sharply or exactly limited or defined; exact; definite; not loose, vague, uncertain, or equivocal; as, precise rules of morality; precise directions for life and conduct. For the law in this point is not precise.' Bacon, For the hour precise Exacts our parting hence.

Milton.

2. Exact in conduct; strict; hence, also overstrictly adhering to rule; formal; excessively nice or exact; punctilious in conduct or ceremony.

He was ever precise in promise-keeping. Shak, The raillery of the wits in King Charles the Second's reign, upon everything which they called precise, was carried to so great an extravagance, that it almost put all Christianity out of countenance. Addison.

SYN. Exact, definite, accurate, correct, nice, scrupulous, punctilious, particular, formal, finical.

Precisely (pre-sīs'li), adv. 1. In a precise manner; exactly; nicely; accurately; in exact conformity to truth or to a rule. 'Some craven scruple of thinking too precisely on the event.' Shak.

When more of these orders than one are to be set in several stories there must be an exquisite care to place Wotton. the columns precisely one over another.

2. With excess of formality; with scrupulous exactness or punctiliousness in behaviour or ceremony.

Preciseness (pre-sis'nes), n. 1. Exactness; rigid nicety; as, the preciseness of words or expressions.

I will distinguish the cases; though give me leave in handling them, not to sever them with too much pre

ciseness.

Bacon.

2. Excessive regard to forms or rules; rigid formality; stiffness; a scrupulous conformity to custom or fashion; as, preciseness of dress. Precisian (prē-si’zhan), n. An over-precise

PRECISIAN

person; one who is rigidly or ceremoniously exact in the observance of rules.

A profane person calls a man of piety a precisian. Watts.

The most dissolute cavaliers stood aghast at the dissoluteness of the emancipated precisian. Macaulay. Precisian (pre-si'zhan), a. Precise; rigidly exact in enforcing the observance of laws or rules.

We are told that he was regarded as a victim and a martyr-the victim of his own brilliant qualities and genial vices, a martyr to the political strategy of a precisian government. Saturday Rev. Precisianism (prē-si'zhan-izm), n. The quality of being a precisian; the act or conduct of a precisian; excessive exact

ness.

That they should, in this one particular, outstrip all precisianism with their scruples and cases. Milton.

Precisianist (pre-si'zhan-ist), n. One very precise; a precisian.

Precision (pre-si'zhon), n. The state of being precise; exact limitation; exactness; accuracy. Giving force and precision to our expressions.' Whately.

Veteran soldiers, whose whole life is a preparation for the day of battle, whose nerves have been braced by long familiarity with danger, and whose movements have all the precision of clockwork. Macaulay. Precisive (pre-si'siv), a. Producing precision or accuracy; exactly limiting by cutting off what is not relative to the purpose.

Precisive abstraction is when we consider those things apart which cannot really exist apart, as when we consider mode without considering its substance or subject. Watts. Preclairt (prek'lar), a. [L. præclarus, bright, shining.] Illustrious; supereminent. That puissant prince preclair. Sir D. Lyndsay. Preclude (pre-klūd'), v.t. [L. præcludopræ, before, and cludo, claudo, to shut.] 1. To shut up; to hinder; to stop; to impede. The valves preclude the blood from entering the veins. Dr. E. Darwin.

2. To hinder, shut out, or render inoperative by anticipative action; to render ineffectual; to obviate.

This much will obviate and preclude the objections of our adversaries. Bentley.

Preclusion (prē-klū’zhon), n. The act of precluding or the state of being precluded; a shutting off.

Preclusive (prē-klū'siv), a. Shutting out or tending to preclude; hindering by previous

obstacles.

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Preclusively (pre-klū'siv-li), adv. In a preclusive manner; with hinderance by anticipation.

Precocet (prē-kōs'), a. Precocious. 'Precoce youths.' Evelyn.

Precocious (pré-kō'shus), a. [Fr. précoce; L. præcox, præcocis, ripe early, prematurely ripe, precocious-pra, before, and coquo, to cook, to ripen, to mature. See COOK.] 1. Ripe before the proper or natural time. Many precocious trees, and such as have their spring in the winter, may be found in most parts. Sir T. Browne.

2. Ripe in understanding at an early period; developed or matured early in life; as, a precocious youth; precocious faculties or talents.

Precociously (prě-kō'shus-li), adv. In a precocious manner; with premature ripeness or forwardness.

Precociousness, Precocity (pre-kō'shusnes, pre-kos'i-ti), n. The state or quality of being precocious; rapid growth and ripeness before the usual time; prematureness; early development of the mental powers. A precocity of spirit and valour in him.' Howell.

I cannot learn that he (Patrick Henry) gave, in his youth, any evidence of that precocity which sometimes distinguishes uncommon genius. Wirt. Precoetanean (prē kō-ē-tā"nē-an), n. [L. præ, before, con, with, and ætas, age.] One contemporary with but yet older than another. Petrarch the precoetanean of our Chaucer.' Fuller. [Rare.] Precogitate (prē-koj'i-tāt), v.t. pret. & pp. precogitated; ppr. precogitating. [L. præcogito-præ, before, and cogito, to think.] To consider or contrive beforehand. [Rare.] Precogitation (pre-koj'i-tā"shon), n. vious thought or consideration. Precognition (pre-kog-ni'shon), n. [L. præ, before, and cognitio, knowledge.] 1. Previous knowledge or cognition; antecedent examination. Fotherby.-2. In Scots law, a preliminary examination of a witness or of one likely to know something about a case, or the evidence taken down; especi

Pre

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ally, an examination of witnesses to a criminal act, before a judge, justice of the peace, or sheriff, by a procurator-fiscal, in order to know whether there is ground of trial, and to enable him to set forth the facts in the libel.

Precognosce (prē'kog-nos), v. t. pret. & pp. precognosced; ppr. precognoscing. In Scots law, to take the precognition of; as, to precognosce witnesses. See PRECOGNITION. Precollection (pre-kol'lek-shon), n. A collection previously made. Precompose (pré-kom-pōz'), v. t. pret. & pp. precomposed; ppr. precomposing. To compose beforehand.

He did not precompose his cursory sermons. Johnson. Preconceit (pre-kon-set'), n. An opinion or notion previously formed. "Their misfashioned preconceit.' Hooker. Preconceive (pre-kon-sēv'), v.t. pret. & pp. preconceive; ppr. preconceiving. To conceive previously; to form a conception or opinion of beforehand; to form a previous notion or idea of.

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To con

Preconcertedly (pre-kon-sert'ed-li), adv. In a preconcerted manner; by preconcert. Preconcertedness (pre-kon-sért'ed-nes), n. State of being preconcerted. 'The preconcertedness of Bolingbroke's scheme.' Coleridge. [Rare.] Preconcertion (pre-kon-ser'shon), n. Act of concerting beforehand. Dwight. Precondemn (pre-kon-dem'), v.t. demn beforehand. Prynne. Precondemnation (pre-kon'dem-nā"shon), The act of condemning, or the state of Precondition (pre-kon-di'shon), n. being condemned, beforehand. A previous or antecedent condition; a preliminary. Preconform (prē-kon-form'), v.t. and i. To conform by way of anticipation. De Quin

n.

cey.

Preconformity (pre-kon-form'i-ti), n. Antecedent conformity. Coleridge.

Preconizatet (pre-kon'iz-āt), v.t. [From L. præco, præconis, a public crier.] 1. To proclaim; to publish.-2. To summon; to call. Burnet.

Preconization t (prē'kon-iz-ā"shon), n. A publishing by proclamation, or a proclamation. A solemn preconization.' Bp. Hall. Preconquer (prē-kong'kėr), v. t. To conquer beforehand.

This kingdom . . . they had preconquered in their hopes. Fuller. Preconsent (pre-kon-sent), n. A previous consent. Southey. Preconsign (prē-kon-sin'), v.t. To consign beforehand; to make a previous consignment of.

Preconsolidated (pre-kon-solid-at-ed), a. Consolidated beforehand. Preconstitute (prē-kon'sti-tūt), v.t. pret. & pp. preconstituted; ppr. preconstituting. To constitute or establish beforehand. Precontract (prē-kon'trakt), n. A contract previous to another.

They maintained that their country was under a precontract to the Most High, and could never, while the world lasted, enter into any engagement inconsistent with that precontract. Macaulay. Precontract (pre-kon-trakt), v. t. and i. To contract or stipulate previously. Precontrive (pre-kon-triv'), v.t. and i. To contrive or plan beforehand. Warburton. Precordial (pré-kor'di-al), a. Same as Præcordial.

Precordials (prē-kor’di-alz), n. pl. Same as Præcordia.

Precurrert (pre-kėrėr), n. Same as Precursor. "Thou shrieking harbinger, foul precurrer of the fiend.' Shak. Precurset (prē-kėrs'), n. [L. præ, before, and cursus, a running.] A forerunning.

Shak.

Precursive (prē-kers'iv), a. Preceding and leading to; introductory; precursory. Is. Taylor.

PREDESTINARIAN

Precursor (pré-kérs'ér), n. [L. præcursorpræ, before, and cursor, a runner, from curro, cursum, to run.] A forerunner; a harbinger; he who or that which precedes an event and indicates its approach. 'Jove's lightnings, the precursors o' the dreadful thunder-claps.' "Shak.

Evil thoughts are the invisible, airy precursors of all the storms and tempests of the soul. Buckminster. SYN. Forerunner, harbinger, messenger, predecessor, omen, sign. Precursory (pre-kér'so-ri), a. Preceding as the harbinger; indicating something to follow; forerunning; as, precursory symptoms of a fever. Many precursory lights of knowledge.' Sir E. Sandys. Precursory (prē-ker'so-ri), n. An introduction. A necessary precursory to depths of knowledge.' Hammond. Predacean (pre-dā'shan), n. A carnivorous animal. Kirby.

Predaceous (prē-da'shus), a. [L. prædaceus, from præda, prey, spoil.] Living by prey. "The predaceous weasel.' Owen. Predal (pre'dal), a. [L. præda, prey.] Practising plunder; plundering. The predal raven. Samuel Boyse. [Rare.]

Predate (pré-dāt'), v. t. To date by anticipation; to antedate; as, to predate a deed or letter.

Predation (pre-dā'shon), n. [L. prædatio, a plundering.] The act of pillaging or plundering. Hall.

Predatory (pred'a-to-ri), a._ [L. prædatorius, from præda, prey. 1 1. Plundering; pillaging; characterized by plundering; practising rapine; as, a predatory excursion; a predatory party. A predatory war comMacaulay.-2. Hungry; raven

menced.'

ous.

The evils that come of exercise are, that it maketh the spirits more hot and predatory. Bacon. Predecay+ (prē-dē-kā'), n. Premature decay. Sir T. Browne.

Predecease (prē-dē-sēs'), v. t. pret. & pp. predeceased; ppr. predeceasing. To die before.

Shak.

If children predecease progenitors We are their offspring. Predecease (prē-dē-sēs'), n. The decease of one before another. Predecessive (prē-dē-ses'iv), a. Going before; preceding. 'Our predecessive students.' Massinger.

Predecessor (prē-dē-ses'èr), n. [L. prædecessor-pro, before, and decessor, one who retires from a government, from decedo, decessum, to go away, to depart-de, from, and cedo, to go. See CEDE.] 1. One who precedes or goes before another in some position; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, or the like; one whom another follows or comes after.

If I seem partial to my predecessor in the laurel, the friends of antiquity are not few. Dryden.

2. An ancestor. Shak. Predeclare (prē-dē-klār^), a. To declare beforehand. Their indefeasible power of predeclaring the eternal destiny of every living layman.' Milman. Predefine (prē-dē-fin'), v.t. To define or limit beforehand; to set a limit to previously. Bp. Hall. Predeliberation (pre'dē-lib-e-rā"shon), n. Deliberation beforehand. Roget. Predelineation (pre-de-lin'ĕ-ā"shon), n. Previous delineation. Predesign (prē-dē-sin' or prē-dē-zin'), v.t. To design or purpose beforehand; to predetermine. Barrow. Predesignate (pre-de-sig'nāt), a. In logic,

a term applied by Sir W. Hamilton to propositions having their logical quantity expressed by one of the signs of quantity, all, none, &c., and contrasted with preindesignate, having no sign expressive of quantity. The more common terms are definite and indefinite.

Predesignation (pre-des'ig-nā”shon), n. In logic, a sign, symbol, or word expressing logical quantity.

He thinks that, in universal negation, the logicians employ the predesignation 'all.' Sir W. Hamilton. Predesignatory (pre-des'ig-na-to-ri), a. In logic, marking the logical quantity of a proposition.

Here the predesignatory words for universally affirmative and universally negative quantity are not the Sir W. Hamilton.

same.

Predestinarian (pre-des'ti-nā"ri-an),a. Of or belonging to predestination.

Those who did not hold the predestinarian theory were branded with reproach by the names of freewillers and Pelagians.

Hallam.

PREDESTINARIAN

Predestinarian (pre-des'ti-na"ri-an), n. [See PREDESTINATE.] One who believes in the doctrine of predestination. Dr. H. More. Predestinarianism (pre-des'ti-nă" ri-anizm), n. The system or doctrines of the predestinarians. Milman.

Predestinate (pre-des'tin-āt), a. Predestinated; foreordained.

Some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate scratched face. Shak. Predestinate (pre-des'tin-at), v. t. pret. & pp. predestinated; ppr. predestinating. [L. prædestino, prædestinatum-præ, before, and destino, to fix, to determine. See DESTINE.] To predetermine or foreordain; to appoint or ordain beforehand by an unchangeable purpose.

Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.

Rom. viii. 29.

SYN. To predetermine, foreordain, preordain, decree, predestine, foredoom. Predestination (pre-des'tin-a" shon), n. The act of decreeing or foreordaining events; especially, in theol. the decree or purpose of God by which (according to many theologians) he has from eternity unchangeably appointed or determined whatever comes to pass; frequently, and particularly, the preordination of men to everlasting happiness or misery. Predestination overruled their will.' Milton.

The Olympian gods were cruel, jealous, capricious, malignant; but beyond and above the Olympian gods lay the silent, brooding, everlasting fate, of which victim and tyrant were alike the instruments, and which .. before all was over would vindicate the sovereignty of justice. . . . This obscure belief lies at the very core of our spiritual nature, and it is called fate or it is called predestination according as it is regarded pantheistically as a necessary condition of the universe, or as the decree of a self-conscious being. J. A. Froude.

Predestinative (pre-des'tin-at-iv), a. Determining beforehand; foreordaining. Coleridge.

Predestinator (pre-des'tin-at-êr), n. 1. One that predestinates or foreordains. —2. One that holds to predestination; a predestinarian.

Let all predestinators me produce,

Who struggle with eternal fate in vain. Cowley. Predestine (pre-des'tin), v. t. pret. & pp. predestined; ppr. predestining. To decree beforehand; to foreordain. And bid predestined empires rise and fall.' Prior. 'The hidden overruling presence of inexorable moral powers working out in the predestined doom of mortals.' Dr. Caird.

Predestiny + (prē-des'ti-ni), n. Predestination. Chaucer.

Predeterminable (pre-de-têr'min-a-bl), a. That may be predetermined. Coleridge. Predeterminate (pre-de-tér'min-at), a. Determined beforehand; as, the predeterminate counsel of God.

We cannot break through the bounds of God's providence and predeterminate purpose, in the guidance of events. Bp. Richardson. Predetermination (pre-de-ter'min-ā"shon), n. Previous determination; purpose formed beforehand. "This predetermination of God's own will.' Hammond.

Predetermine (pre-de-têr'min), v. t. pret. & pp. predetermined; ppr. predetermining. 1. To determine beforehand; to settle in purpose or counsel.

If God foresees events, he must have predeter mined them. Sir M. Hale.

2. To doom by previous decree. Predetermine (pre-de-tér'min), v.i. To make a determination beforehand. Predial (pre'di-al), a. [Fr. prédial, from L. prædium, a farm or estate.] 1. Consisting of land or farms; real; landed.

By the civil law their predial estates are liable to fiscal payments and taxes. Ayliffe.

2. Attached to land or farms; as, predial slaves.-3. Growing or issuing from land; as, predial tithes: in contradistinction to tithes arising from animals.-Predial servitudes, in Scots law, real servitudes affecting heritage.

Predicability (pred'i-ka-bil”i-ti), n. The quality of being predicable, or capable of being affirmed of something or attributed

to something.

Predicable (pred'i-ka-bl), a. [L. prædicabilis, from prædico, to affirm. See PREDICATE.] Capable of being affirmed of something; that may be attributed to something; as, animal is predicable of man; intelligence is not predicable of plants; whiteness is not predicable of time.

Predicable (pred′i-ka-bl), n. Anything that

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may be predicated or affirmed of another; specifically, in logic, a term which can be affirmatively predicated of several others. The predicables are commonly said to be five: genus, species, difference, property, and accident. Predicament (pre-dik'a-ment), n. [L. L. prædicamentum, from L. prædico, to affirm. See PREDICATE.] 1. In logic, a series or order of all the predicates or attributes contained under any genus. The school philosophers distribute all the objects of our thoughts and ideas into genera or classes, which the Greeks call categories and the Latins predicaments. Aristotle made ten categories, viz. substance, quantity, quality, relation, action, passion, time, place, situation, and habit. It is evident that all these may be arranged under two grand heads-substance and attribute.-2. Class or kind described by any definite marks; hence, condition; particular situation or state; especially, a dangerous or trying condition or state.

The offender's life lies in the mercy Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice; In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st. Shak. Predicamental (pre-dik'a-men"tal), a. Pertaining to a predicament. Hall. Predicant (pred'i-kant), n. [L. prædicans, prædico. See PREACH.] 1. One that affirms anything.-2. A preaching friar; a Domini

can.

Predicant (pred'i-kant), a. 1. Predicating or affirming.-2. Preaching.

In spite of every opposition from the predicant friars and university of Cologne, the barbarous schoolbooks were superseded. Sir W. Hamilton.

Predicate (pred'i-kāt), v.t. pret. & pp. predicated; ppr. predicating. [L. prædico, prædicatum, to affirm, to declare-pra, before, and dico, to say. Preach is from præœdico.] 1. To affirm one thing of another; as, to predicate whiteness of snow. -2. To found, as a proposition, argument, &c., on some basis or data; as, to predicate an argument on certain principles. J. Quincey Adams. [American.]

Predicate (pred'i-kāt), v.i. To affirm something of another thing; to make an affirmation. Sir M. Hale.

Predicate (pred′i-kāt), n. 1. In logic, that which, in a proposition, is affirmed or denied of the subject. In these propositions, 'paper is white,' 'ink is not white,' whiteness is the predicate affirmed of paper and denied of ink.-2. In gram. the word or words in a proposition which express what is affirmed or denied of the subject. Predicate (pred'i-kát), a. Predicated. Predication (pred-i-ka'shon), n. 1. The act of predicating or of affirming one thing of another; affirmation; assertion.

The most generally received notion of predication is that it consists in referring something to a class, 1.e. either in placing an individual under a class, or placing one class under another class. F. S. Mill. 2. The art of delivering sermons; preaching. 'His powers of predication.' Sir W. Scott. Predicative (pre-dik'a-tiv), a. Predicating or affirming; expressing affirmation or predication; as, a predicative term. Predicatory (pred'i-ka-to-ri), a. Affirmative; positive. Bp. Hall. Predict (pre-dikt), v.t. [L. prædico, prædictum præ, before, and dico, to tell.] To foretell; to prophesy; to tell beforehand. We saw all those things done by, and accomplished in, him (Christ), which were long ago predicted to us by the prophets. Cudworth. SYN. To foretell, prophesy, prognosticate, presage, forebode, foreshow, bode. Prediction (pre-dik'shon), n. [L. prædicPredict (pre-dikt), n. A prediction. Shak. tio.] The act of predicting; a foretelling; a prophecy.

How soon hath thy prediction, seer blest,
Measured this transient world, the race of time,
Till time stand fixed.
Milton.

SYN. Prophecy, prognostication, foreboding, augury, divination, soothsaying, vaticination.

Predictive (pre-dik'tiv), a. Foretelling; prophetic. With bitter smile predictive of my woes.' Crabbe. Predictively (pre-dik'tiv-li), adv. By way of prediction.

Predictor (pre-dik'tér), n. A foreteller; one who prophesies. Swift. Predigestion (pre-di-jest'yon), n. Too hasty digestion.

Predigestion... fills the body with crudities. Bacon. Predilection (pre-di-lek'shon), n. [Fr. prédilection L. præ, before, and dilectio, a

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Prediscover (pre-dis-kuver), v.t. To discover previously or beforehand. Fuller. Prediscovery (pre-dis-kuv'èr-i), n. A discovery made previously. Dana. Predisponency (pre-dis-po'nen-si), n. The state of being predisposed; predisposition. Predisponent (pre-dis-po'nent), n. That which predisposes. The Predisponent (pre-dis-pō'nent), a. same as Predisposing. Dunglison. Predispose (pre-dis-pōz'), v. t. pret. & pp. predisposed; ppr. predisposing. [Pre and dispose.] 1. To incline beforehand; to give a previous disposition or tendency to; as, to predispose the mind or temper to friendship. South.-2. To fit or adapt previously; as, debility predisposes the body to disease. Predisposing (pre-dis-pōz'ing), p. and a. Inclining or disposing beforehand; making liable or susceptible.

A predisposing cause may... be defined to be anything whatever which has had such a previous influence upon the body as to have rendered it unusually susceptible to the exciting causes of the particular disease. Sir T. Watson.

Predisposition (pre-dis pō-zi"shon), n. 1. The state of being previously disposed towards something; previous inclination or tendency; previous set or bent; as, to have a predisposition towards melancholy.-2. Previous fitness or adaptation to any change, impression, or purpose; as, the predisposition of the body to disease; the predisposition of the seasons to generate diseases. Bacon. Predominance (pre-dom'in-ans), n. [See PREDOMINANT.] 1. Prevalence over others; superiority in strength, power, influence, or authority; ascendency; as, the predominance of a red colour in a body of various colours; the predominance of love or anger among the passions. The predominance of conscience over interest. South.-2. In astrol. the superior influence of a planet. 'Knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance.' Shak.

Predominancy (pre-domʼin-an-si), n. Same as Predominance. Sir T. Browne. Predominant (pre-dom'in-ant), a. [Pre and dominant; Fr. prédominant-L. præe, and dominor, to rule, from dominus, a lord or master.] Prevalent over others; superior in strength, influence, or authority; ascendant; ruling; controlling; as, a predominant colour; predominant beauty or excellence; a predominant passion. Foul subornation is predominant.' Shak.-SYN. Prevalent, superior, prevailing, ascendant, ruling, reigning, controlling, overruling. Predominantly (pre-dom'in-ant-li), adv. In a predominant manner; with superior strength or influence.

Predominate (pre-dom'in-ät), v.i. pret. predominated; ppr. predominating, [Fr. prédominer-L. præ, before, and dominor, to rule, from dominus, lord.] To have surpassing strength, influence, or authority; to be superior; to have controlling influence among others.

So much did love t' her executed lord Daniel. Predominate in this fair lady's heart. The rays reflected least obliquely may predomin ate over the rest. Newton. Predominatet (prē-dom'in-āt), v. t. To rule over; to master; to conquer; to overpower. Shak.

I stol'n am from myself by nine sweet queens, Who do predominate my wit and will. Sir F. Davies. Predomination (pre-dom'in-a"shon), n. The act of predominating; superior strength or influence. Their predominations sway so much over the rest." W. Browne. Predoom (pre-döm'), v. t. To doom or judge beforehand or in anticipation.

All

Had marvel what the maid might be, but most
Predoom'd her as unworthy.
Tennyson.

Predorsal (pre-dor'sal),a. [Prefix pre, before, and dorsal. In anat. in front of the back. Predy (pre'di), a. Naut. a term applied to a ship cleared and ready for an engagement. Pree, Prie (pre), v. t. [Contr. of O.E. prieve, for prove.] To prove by tasting; to taste. Burns. [Scotch.]

Pre-elect (prē-ē-lekt), v.t. To choose or

elect beforehand.

Pre-election (pré-é-lek'shon), n. Choice or election by previous determination of the will. Jer. Taylor.

PRE-EMINENCE

Pre-eminence (pré-em'in-ens), n. The state or quality of being pre-eminent; superior or surpassing eminence; superiority, especially superiority in excellence; distinction in something commendable; as, pre-eminence in honour or virtue; pre-eminence in eloquence, in legal attainments, or in medical skill. That in all things he might have the pre-eminence.' Col. i. 18. The pre-eminence of Christianity to any other religious scheme.' Addison.

Shak.

Pope.

I do invest you jointly with my power, Pre-eminence, and all the large effects That troop with majesty. Painful pre-eminence! Yourself to view Above life's weakness and its comforts too. Pre-eminent (pre-em'in-ent), a. Eminent above others; surpassing or superior to others; distinguished, generally for something commendable or honourable, though it may also be used of superiority in evil. In goodness and in power pre-eminent.' Milton.

He wondered, he said, that it should be opposed by Macclesfield, who had borne so pre-eminent a Macaulay. part in the Revolution.

Pre-eminently (pre-em'in-ent-li), adv. In a pre-eminent manner or degree; with superiority or distinction above others; as, pre-eminently wise or good.

The southern extremity is pre-eminently magnifiPennant.

cent.

Pre-employ (pre-em-ploi'), v.t. To employ previously or before others.

That false villain, Whom I employ'd, was pre-employ'd by him. Shak. Pre-empt (pre-emt'), v. t. or i. To take up land with a right of pre-emption under the laws of the United States. Goodrich. [United States.]

Pre-emption (pre-em'shon), n. [L. præ, before, and emptio, a buying, from emo, to buy.] 1. The act of purchasing before others. 2. The right of purchasing before others, as the right of a settler to the first chance of buying land in or near which he has settled; and formerly, in England, the privilege or prerogative enjoyed by the king of buying provisions for his household in preference to others, abolished by statute 19 Chas. II. -Clause of pre-emption, in Scots law, a clause sometimes inserted in a feu-right, stipulating that if the vassal shall be inclined to sell the lands he shall give the superior the first offer, or that the superior shall have the lands at a certain price fixed in the clause.

Pre-emptive (pre-em'tiv), a. Pertaining to pre-emption; pre-empting. Pre-emptor (pre-em'ter), n. One who preempts; especially, one who takes up land with the privilege of pre-emption. Preen (pren), n. [A. Sax. preon, a clasp, a bodkin; Dan preen, the point of a graving tool, a bodkin; Icel. prjonn, a pin, a knitting needle; L.G. prên, prêm, D. priem, a pin, a spike; G. pfriem, an awl.] 1. A forked instrument used by clothiers in dressing cloth.-2. A pin. [Scotch.]

Preen (prēn), v.t. [O.E. proine, proigne, to prune, to preen. See PRUNE.] To trim with the beak; to clean and dress: said of birds dressing their feathers. Birds are furnished with two glands on their rump, which secrete an oily substance into a bag, from which they draw it with the bill and spread

it over their feathers.

Pre-engage (prē-en-gāj'), v.t. pret. & pp. pre-engaged; ppr. pre-engaging. 1. To engage by previous promise or agreement.

To Cipseus by his friends his suit he moved, But he was pre-engaged by former ties. Dryden. 2. To engage or attach by previous influence; to preoccupy; as, to pre-engage one's attention.

The world has the unhappy advantage of preengaging our passions. Daniel Rogers. Pre-engagement (pré-en-gāj'ment), n. 1. Prior engagement, as by stipulation or promise; as, A. would accept my invitation but for his pre-engagement to B.-2. Any previous attachment binding the will or affections.

My pre-engagements to other themes were not unknown to those for whom I was to write. Boyle. Pre-erect (prē-ē-rekt), v. t. To erect or set up previously or beforehand. Prynne. Prees, n. A press or crowd. Chaucer. Pre-establish (pré-es-tab'lish), v.t. tablish or settle beforehand. A pre-established usage of this kind.' Coventry. Pre-establishment (pré-es-tab'lish-ment), n. Settlement beforehand.

To es

513

Pre-eternity (prē-ē-térn'i-ti), n. Time without a beginning; infinite previous duration. He seemeth, with Ocellus, to maintain the world's pre-eternity. Cudworth.

Preeving, n. A proving; proof; trial. Spenser.

Pre-examination(pré-egz-am'in-ā"shon), n. Previous examination. Wotton. Pre-examine (pre-egz-am'in), v.t. pret. & pp. pre-examine; ppr. pre-examining. To examine beforehand.

Pre-exist (prē-egz-ist), v.i. To exist beforehand or before something else.

If thy pre-existing soul Was form'd at first with myriads more, It did through all the mighty poets roll. Dryden. Pre-existence (pré-egz-ist'ens), n. 1. Existence previous to something else.

Wisdom declares her antiquity and pre-existence to all the works of this earth." Burnet.

2. Existence in a previous state; existence of the soul before its union with the body, or before the body is formed. It was the doctrine of the Pythagorean school, of Plato, and of other philosophers. Pre-existencist (pre-egz-ist'en-sist), n. One who believes in the doctrine of pre-existence. Chambers's Ency. See PRE-EXISTENCE, 2. Pre-existency (pré-egz-ist'en-si), n. Same as Pre-existence.

Pre-existent (pre-egz-ist'ent), a. Existing beforehand; preceding in existence.

What mortal knows his pre-existent state? Pope. Pre-existimation (prē-egz-is'ti-mā"shon), Previous esteem.

N.

Let not mere acquests in minor parts of learning gain thy pre-existimation. Sir T. Browne.

Pre-expectation (pre-ek'spekt-a"shon), n. Previous expectation. Smart. Preface (pre'fas), n. [Fr. préface, from L. præfatio præ, before, and fari, fatum, to speak (whence also fate, fame).] Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or other composition; an introduction or series of preliminary remarks; but what receives the name of introduction is generally longer than a preface, and contains matter kindred in subject, but additional or leading up to what follows, while a preface usually gives some particulars relating to the origin, history, scope, or intention of the work to which it is prefixed.

This superficial tale

Is but a preface of her worthy praise. Shak. SYN. Introduction, preamble, proem, prelude, prologue. Preface (pre'fas), v. t. pret. & pp. prefaced; ppr. prefacing. To introduce by preliminary remarks; as, to preface a book or dis

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Cleaveland.

The writer of a

I love to wear clothes that are flush,
Not prefacing old rags with plush.
Prefacer (pre'fas-ér), n.
preface. Dryden.
Prefatorial (pre-fa-to'ri-al), a. Intro-
ductory; prefatory. Much prefatorial
matter.'

Prefatorily (pre fa-to-ri-li), adv. By way of
W. Gilpin
preface.

Prefatory (pre 'fa-to-ri), a. Having the
character of a preface; pertaining to a
preface; as, to make a few prefatory
remarks. "That prefatory addition to the
creed.' Dryden.

Prefe,t Preve,t n. Proof; trial. Chaucer. Prefect (pre'fekt), n. [L. præfectus, from præficio-præ, before, and facio, to make. See FACTOR.] A governor, commander, chief magistrate, or superintendent. Specifically, (a) a name common to several officers, military and civil, in ancient Rome, who held particular commands or had charge of certain departments. Thus the prefect, or warden of the city, at first exercised within the city the powers of the king or consuls during their absence; afterward, as a permanent magistrate, he was empowered to maintain peace and order in the city. Under Constantine the prefects became governors of provinces. The title was also given to the commander of the fleet, and to the commander of the troops who guarded the emperor's person, as well as to several other chief officers and magistrates. (b) An important functionary in France; a préfet.

ch, chain; ch, Sc. loch; g, go; j, job; i, Fr. ton; ng, sing; TH, then; th, thin;

PREFERMENT

Préfets are officials who preside over the departments, within which they have the actual direction of the police establishment, together with extensive powers of municipal regulation. Prefectship (pre'fekt-ship), n. Same as Prefecture.

Prefecture (pre'fek-tür), n. 1. The office of a chief magistrate, commander, or viceroy; the jurisdiction of a prefect.-2. The residence of a prefect.

Prefer (pre-fér'), v. t. pret. & pp. preferred; ppr. preferring. [L. præfero, to carry before, to set before, to present, to esteem more highly-pro, before, and fero, to bear or carry.] 1. To offer for one's consideration or decision; to set forth; to address; to present: said especially of petitions, prayers, &c.; as, to prefer a request to a person. 'My vows and prayers to thee preferred.' Sandys. 'And each prefers his separate claim.' Tennyson.

An accusation was preferred against the bishops, which was signed by nearly every corporation. Buckle. 2. To advance, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; as, to prefer a person to a bishopric.-3. To set above something else in estimation; to hold in greater favour or esteem; to have a greater liking for; to incline more toward; to choose rather: followed by to before the object held in inferior estimation, sometimes before or above; as, to prefer beef to mutton; to prefer a gambler to a hypocrite. If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.' Ps. cxxxvii. 6. He that cometh after me is preferred before me. Jn. i. 15. 4. To offer or present; to proffer. He spake, and to her hand preferr'd the bowl. Pope. 5. To recommend. Who lets go by no vantages that may prefer you to his daughter.' Shak.

Preferability (pref'èr-a-bil"i-ti), n. The state or quality of being preferable. J. S. Mill.

Preferable (pref'ér-a-bl), a. Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more eligible; more desirable; as, this thing or person is preferable to that.

The

Almost every man in our nation is a politician, and hath a scheme of his own which he thinks preferable to any other. Addison. Preferableness (pref'èr-a-bl-nes), n. quality or state of being preferable. Mountagu. Preferably (pref'èr-a-bli), adv. In preference; in such a manner as to prefer one thing to another by choice or predilection. How comes he to choose Plautus preferably to Terence? Dennis.

1. The prePreference (pref'èr-ens), n. ferring of one thing before another; estimation of one thing above another; choice of one thing rather than another; predilection; higher place in esteem: followed by to, above, before, or over before the thing holding the second place in estimation.

Leave the critics on either side to contend about the preference due to this or that sort of poetry. Dryden. This passes with his soft admirers, and gives him the preference to Virgil. Dryden. 2. The object of choice; the person or thing preferred; choice. - Preference shares or preference stock, in com. shares or stock on which dividends are payable before those on the original shares or stock.-A fraudulent preference, in Eng. law, a transfer of money or other subject of value to a creditor, with the intention, in the mind of the debtor, of preventing the law of bankruptcy operating in the distribution of his effects for the equal benefit of all his creditors. Preferential (pref-ér-en'shal), a. In a position to which some preference is attached; as, the preferential shares or stock of a railway, or preferential bonds upon indebted property.

Preferment (pre-fer'ment), n. 1. The act of preferring in the sense of advancing to higher rank or dignity; advancement to a higher office, dignity, or station; promo tion.

Neither royal blandishments nor promises of valuable preferment had been spared. Macaulay. 2. A superior or valuable place or office, especially in the church.

All preferments should be placed upon fit men. Sir R. L'Estrange. All the higher preferments of the church are held exclusively by the first. Brougham. 3. Preference.

w, wig; wh, whig; zh, azure.-See KEY.

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act of prefiguring, or state of being prefigured; antecedent representation by similitude.

Most of the famous passages of providence (especially the signal afflictions of eminent persons representing our Saviour) do seem to have been prefiguraBarrow. tions of or preludes to his passion.

Show

Prefigurative (pre-fig'ür-at-iv), a.
ing by previous figures, types, or similitude.
'The prefigurative atonement made by the
sprinkling of blood.' Bp. Horne.
Prefigure (pre-fig'ür), v.t. To exhibit by
antecedent representation or by types and
similitude.

What the Old Testament hath the very same the New containeth; but that which lieth there, as under a shadow, is here brought forth into the open sun; things there prefigured are here performed. Hooker.

The Prefigurement (pre-fig'ür-ment), n. act of prefiguring; thing prefigured. Carlyle.

Prefine t (pre-fin'), v. t. pret. & pp. prefined; ppr. prefining. [L. præefinio-pro, before, and finio, to limit, finis, limit.] To limit beforehand. 'Giving them a name, prefining their number, and declaring their office.' Abp. Potter.

Set and

Prefinite + (pre-fi'nit), a. Previously limited
or arranged; defined beforehand.
prefinite time.' Holland.

Prefinition † (pre-fi-ni'shon), n. Previous
limitation. Fotherby.

Prefix (pre-fiks'), v. t. [Fr. préfixer; L. præfigo, præfixus-præ, before, and figo, to fix. See FIX.] 1. To put or fix before or at the beginning of another thing; as, to prefix a syllable to a word; to prefix an advertisement to a book or an epithet to a title.2. To set or appoint beforehand; to settle or establish antecedently; as, to prefix the hour of meeting.

Sandys.

A time prefix, and think of me at last.
Many do firmly believe that whatever happens or
can happen has been prefixed and ordained by
Brougham.

Heaven.

3. To settle; to establish. 'Because I
would prefix some certain boundary between
them.' Sir M. Hale.
A letter, syllable, or
Prefix (pre'fiks), n.
word put to the beginning of a word,
usually to vary its signification. A prefix
is united with the word, forming a part of
it; hence it is distinguished from a prepo-
sition; as, pre- in prefix; con- in conjure;
with- in withstand.
The act of
Prefixion (pré-fik'shon), n.
prefixing.

Prefloration (pre-flō-rā'shon), n. In bot.
the same as Estivation.

Prefoolt (pre-föl'), v.t. To anticipate in
foolery.

I'll tell you a better project, wherein no courtier has
Shirley.
prefooled you.
Preform (pre-form'), v.t. To form before-

hand. Shak.

In

Preformative (pre-form'a- tiv), n.
philol. (a) a formative letter at the begin-
ning of a word. (b) A prefix; as, de- in
despondent; dis- in disreputable; un- in

unruly; &c.

Prefulgency (pre-ful'jen-si), n.
[L. præ-
fulgens-pra, before, and fulgeo, to shine.]
Superior brightness or effulgency.

Barrow.

By the prefulgence of his excellent worth and merit St. Peter had the first place. Pregaget (prē-gāj'), v.t. To pre-engage; to engage beforehand. By oath pregaged to the Pope.' Fuller. Preglacial (pre-gla'shi-al), a. In geol. prior to the glacial or boulder-drift period.

Pregnable (preg'na-bl), a. [Fr. prenable, from prendre, to take, and that from L. See PREprehendo, prehensum, to take.

HENSILE.] 1. Capable of being taken or won by force; expugnable. Cotgrave.-2. Capable of being moved, impressed, or convinced. [Rare.] Pregnance (preg'nans), n. 1. State of

514

being impregnated; pregnancy.-2. Inven-
tive power.

I cannot but admire the ripeness and the pregnance
of his native treachery, endeavouring to be more a
Milton.
fox than his wit will suffer him.

Pregnancy (preg'nan-si), n. [See PREG-
NANT.] 1. The state of being pregnant;
the state of a female who has conceived or
is with child.-Concealment of pregnancy,
in law, is a misdemeanour punishable with
imprisonment not exceeding two years, with
or without hard labour.-Plea of pregnancy.
When a pregnant woman is capitally con-
victed under the British laws the execution
of her sentence is delayed until after the
birth of the child.-2. The quality of being
full of important contents, significance, or
the like; unusual capacity or consequence.
'Rich, quaint pregnancy of Browning.'
Prof. Blackie.

Perceiving in him pregnancy of parts, though
crippled with the lowness of his vocation. Fuller.
Pregnant (preg'nant), a.

'All

[L. pregnans,
pregnantis, heavy with young-præ, before,
and gnans, ppr. of an obsolete verb, of which
gnatus, natus, born, is the pp. The root is
gan. See NATURE.] 1. Being with young;
great with child; gravid; as, a pregnant
woman. 'My womb, pregnant by thee, and
now excessive grown. Milton.-2. Full of
important contents; abounding with results;
full of consequence or significance.
these in their pregnant causes mix'd.' Milton.
'A pregnant argument against all common
stage-players.' Prynne. 'An egregious and
pregnant instance how far virtue surpasses
ingenuity.' Woodward.-3.† Full of pro-
mise or excellence; of unusual ability or
capacity; stored with information; well-
informed; hence, apt; ready; dexterous;
witty.

The schoolmaster assured me that there had not
been for twenty years a more pregnant youth in that
Evelyn.
place than my grandson.

Our city's institutions, and the terms
For common justice, you're as pregnant in
Shak
As art and practice hath enriched any.
How pregnant sometimes his replies are! Shak.
4. Probable in the highest degree; easily
seen; clear; evident.

'Tis very pregnant,
The jewel that we find, we stoop and take't
Because we see it.

Shak.

-Pregnant construction, in rhet. a con-
struction in which more is implied than is

said or seems; as, the beasts trembled forth
from their dens, that is, came forth tremb-
ling.-Negative pregnant. See under NEGA-

TIVE.

Pregnant (pregnant), n.

One who is preg

nant or with child. Dunglison.
Pregnant (pregnant), a. [Fr. prenant,
ppr. of prendre, to take." See PREGNABLE.]
Ready to admit or receive; giving access;
disposed; ready; prompt.
A most poor
pregnant to good pity.' Shak. The
Shak. 'To
pregnant hinges of the knee.
which the Grecians are most prompt and
pregnant.' Shak.
Pregnantly (pregnant-li), adv. In a preg-

man...

nant manner.

Pregravatet (prē'gra-vāt), v.t. pret. & pp.
pregravated; ppr. pregravating. [L. præ-
gravo, prægravatum, to press heavily-pro,
intens., and gravis, heavy.] To bear down;
to depress.

The clog that the body brings with it cannot but
pregravate and trouble the soul.
Bp. Hall.

Pregravitate (pre-gra'vi-tāt), v. i. pret. & pp.
pregravitated; ppr. pregravitating. To de-
scend by gravity; to sink. Boyle.
Pregustant (pre-gus'tant), a. [L. prægus-
tans.] Tasting beforehand.
Pregustation (pre-gus-ta'shon), n. [L. præ,
and gusto, to taste.] The act of tasting
beforehand; foretaste.

Prehend † (pre'hend), v.t. [L. prehendo, to
take or seize.] To lay hold of; to take; to
seize.

Is not that rebel Oliver, that traitor to my year,
Prehended yet?
T. Middleton.

Prehensible (pre-hen'si-bl), a. Capable of
being seized.

Prehensile (pre-hen'sil), a. [L. prehendo,
prehensus, to lay hold of-pra, before, and
hendo, to lay hold of, used only in com-
pounds; comp. apprehend, comprehend, &c.]
Seizing; grasping; adapted to seize or grasp,
as the hands, or the tails of some monkeys.
Prehension (pre-hen'shon), n. A taking
hold of; a seizing, as with the hand or other
limb.

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Prehnite (pren'it), n. [From Colonel Prehn, who first brought this mineral from the Cape of Good Hope.] A mineral, composed chiefly of silica, alumina, and lime, with small amounts of potash, oxide of iron, &c. It belongs to trap-rocks and syenite, in which it is found in the form of veins and geodes. It is found in South Africa, in Scotland, and in many other places. Preindesignate (pre'in-de-sig'nāt), a. In logic, having no sign to express the logical quantity. The preindesignate terms of a proposition.' Sir W. Hamilton. See PREDESIGNATE.

Preindispose (pre'in-dis-pōz"), v. t. To make
indisposed beforehand. Milman.
Preinstruct (pre-in-strukt), v.t. To instruct
previously or beforehand.

Preintimation (prē'in-ti-mā"shon), n. Pre-
vious intimation; a suggestion beforehand.
Preise, tn. Praise; commendation. Chaucer.
Preise, tv.t. To praise; to commend; to value.
Chaucer.

Trim; finically
Prejink (prē-jingk'), a.
dressed out; prinked. [Scotch.]

Mrs. Fenton, seeing the exposure that prejink Miss
Peggy had made of herself, laughed for some time as
Galt
if she was by herself.

Prejudge (prē-juj'), v.t. pret. & pp. pre-
judged; ppr. prejudging. [Prefix pre, and
judge; Fr. préjuger.] To judge before
hearing, or before the arguments and facts
are fully known; to decide or sentence by
anticipation; hence, to condemn before-
hand or unheard.

The committee of council hath prejudged the whole case by calling the united sense of both houses of par liament an universal clamour. Swift. Prejudgment (prē-juj'ment), n. The act of prejudging; judgment in a case without a hearing or full examination. Prejudicacył (pre-jū'di-ka-si), n. Prejudice; prepossession. Blount. Prejudical (pre-jū'di-kal), a. Pertaining to the determination of some matter not previously decided; as, a prejudical inquiry. Prejudicant (pre-ju'di-kant), a. Judging with prejudice; prejudiced. Milton.

Prejudicate (pré-ju'di-kāt), v. t. pret. & pp. prejudicated; ppr. prejudicating. [L pra, before, and judico, to judge.] To prejudge; to determine beforehand, especially to disadvantage.

Our dearest friend
Prejudicates the business and would seem
Shak.
To have us make denial.

Prejudicate (prē-jū'di-kāt), v.i. pret. pre-
judicated; ppr. prejudicating. To form a
judgment without due examination of the
A pre-
facts and arguments in the case.
judicating humour.' Sir P. Sidney.
1. Formed
Prejudicate (prē-jū'di-kāt), a.
before due examination. "Such a number
of prejudicate opinions.' Bacon.-2. Preju-
diced; biassed by opinions formed prema-
turely. Prejudicate readers.' Sir T. Browne.
'Were not the angry world prejudicate.'
Bp. Hall.

Prejudicately (prē-jū’di-kāt-li), adv. In a
prejudicate manner; with prejudice. Evelyn
Prejudication (pre-ju'di-kä"shon), n. 1. The
act of prejudicating, or of judging without
due examination of facts and evidence; the
forestalling of a judicial determination.--
2. In Rom. law, (a) a preceding judgment,
sentence, or decision; a precedent. (b) A
preliminary inquiry and determination
about something that belonged to the matter
in dispute.

Prejudicative (prē-jū'di-kā-tiv), a. Forming an opinion or judgment without examina

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