Part 466

Pre*ap`pre*hen"sion (?), n. An apprehension or opinion formed before examination or knowledge. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Pre*arm" (?), v. t. To forearm. [R.]

Pre`ar*range" (?), v. t. To arrange beforehand.

Prease (?), v. t. & i. To press; to crowd. [Obs.] -- n. A press; a crowd. [Obs.] Spenser.

Pre`as*sur"ance (?), n. Previous assurance. Coleridge.

Pre`a*tax"ic (?), a. (Med.) Occurring before the symptom ataxia has developed; -- applied to the early symptoms of locomotor ataxia.

Pre*au"di*ence (?), n. (Eng. Law) Precedence of rank at the bar among lawyers. Blackstone.

Pre*ax"i*al (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of any transverse axis in the body of an animal; anterior; cephalic; esp., in front, or on the anterior, or cephalic (that is, radial or tibial) side of the axis of a limb.

Preb"end (prb"nd), n. [F. prÈbende (cf. It. & Sp. prebenda), from L. praebenda, from L. praebere to hold forth, afford, contr. fr. praehibere; prae before + habere to have, hold. See Habit, and cf. Provender.] 1. A payment or stipend; esp., the stipend or maintenance granted to a prebendary out of the estate of a cathedral or collegiate church with which he is connected. See Note under Benefice.

2. A prebendary. [Obs.] Bacon.

Dignitary prebend, one having jurisdiction annexed to it. -- Simple prebend, one without jurisdiction.

Pre*ben"dal (pr*bn"dal), a. Of or pertaining to a prebend; holding a prebend; as, a prebendal priest or stall. Chesterfield.

Preb"en*da*ry (prb"n*d*r), n. [LL. praebendarius: cf. F. prÈbendaire. See Prebend.] 1. A clergyman attached to a collegiate or cathedral church who enjoys a prebend in consideration of his officiating at stated times in the church. See Note under Benefice, n., 3. Hook.

2. A prebendaryship. [Obs.] Bailey.

Preb"en*da*ry*ship, n. The office of a prebendary.

Preb"en*date (?), v. t. [LL. praebendatus, p. p. of praebendari.] To invest with the office of prebendary; to present to a prebend. [Obs.] Grafton.

Preb"end*ship (?), n. A prebendaryship. [Obs.] Foxe.

Pre*bron"chi*al (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the bronchus; -- applied especially to an air sac on either side of the esophagus of birds.

Pre*cal"cu*late (?), v. t. To calculate or determine beforehand; to prearrange. Masson.

Pre"cant (?), n. [L. precans, -antis, p. pr. of precari to pray.] One who prays. [R.] Coleridge.

Pre*ca"ri*ous (?), a. [L. precarius obtained by begging or prayer, depending on request or on the will of another, fr. precari to pray, beg. See Pray.] 1. Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another; as, precarious privileges. Addison.

2. Held by a doubtful tenure; depending on unknown causes or events; exposed to constant risk; not to be depended on for certainty or stability; uncertain; as, a precarious state of health; precarious fortunes. "Intervals of partial and precarious liberty." Macaulay.

Syn. -- Uncertain; unsettled; unsteady; doubtful; dubious; equivocal. -- Precarious, Uncertain. Precarious in stronger than uncertain. Derived originally from the Latin precari, it first signified "granted to entreaty," and, hence, "wholly dependent on the will of another." Thus it came to express the highest species of uncertainty, and is applied to such things as depend wholly on future casualties.

-- Pre*ca"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Pre*ca"ri*ous*ness, n.

Pre*ca"tion (?), n. [L. precatio.] The act of praying; supplication; entreaty. Cotton.

{ Prec"a*tive (?), Prec"a*to*ry (?), } a. [L. precativus, precatorius, fr. precari to pray. See Precarious.] Suppliant; beseeching. Bp. Hopkins.

Precatory words (Law), words of recommendation, request, entreaty, wish, or expectation, employed in wills, as distinguished from express directions; -- in some cases creating a trust. Jarman.

Pre*cau"tion (?), n. [F. prÈcation, L. praecautio, fr. praecavere, praecautum, to guard against beforehand; prae before + cavere be on one's guard. See Pre-, and Caution.] 1. Previous caution or care; caution previously employed to prevent mischief or secure good; as, his life was saved by precaution.