Part 480

Pre`Î*lec"tion (?), n. Election beforehand.

Pre*Îm"i*nence (?), n. [F. prÈÈminence, L. praeeminentia. See PreÎminent.] The quality or state of being preÎminent; superiority in prominence or in excellence; distinction above others in quality, rank, etc.; rarely, in a bad sense, superiority or notoriety in evil; as, preÎminence in honor.

The preÎminence of Christianity to any other religious scheme.

Addison.

Painful preÎminence! yourself to view Above life's weakness, and its comforts too.

Pope.

Beneath the forehead's walled preÎminence.

Lowell.

Pre*Îm"i*nent (?), a. [L. praeminens, -entis, p. pr. praeminere to be prominent, to surpass: cf. F. prÈÈminent. See Pre-, and Eminent.] Eminent above others; prominent among those who are eminent; superior in excellence; surpassing, or taking precedence of, others; rarely, surpassing others in evil, or in bad qualities; as, preÎminent in guilt.

In goodness and in power preÎminent.

Milton.

Pre*Îm"i*nent*ly, adv. In a preÎminent degree.

Pre`Îm*ploy (?), v. t. To employ beforehand. "PreÎmployed by him." Shak.

Pre*Împt" (?; 215), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. PreÎmpted; p. pr. & vb. n. PreÎmpting.] [See PreÎmption.] To settle upon (public land) with a right of preemption, as under the laws of the United States; to take by preÎmption.

Pre*Împ"tion (?; 215), n. [Pref. pre- + emption: cf. F. prÈemption. See Redeem.] The act or right of purchasing before others. Specifically: (a) The privilege or prerogative formerly enjoyed by the king of buying provisions for his household in preference to others. [Eng.] (b) The right of an actual settler upon public lands (particularly those of the United States) to purchase a certain portion at a fixed price in preference to all other applicants. Abbott.

Pre*Împ"tion*er (?), n. One who holds a prior right to purchase certain public land. Abbott.

Pre*Împ"tive (?), a. Of or pertaining to preÎmption; having power to preÎmpt; preÎmpting.

Pre*Împt"or (?; 215), n. [Cf. L. praeemptor.] One who preÎmpts; esp., one who preÎmpts public land.

Pre*Împt"o*ry (?), a. Pertaining to preÎmption.

Preen (?), n. [AS. preÛn a clasp, bodkin; akin to D. priem punch, bodkin, awl, G. pfriem, Icel. prjnn a knitting needle, pin, Dan. preen a bodkin, punch.] A forked tool used by clothiers in dressing cloth.

Preen, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preening.] [See Preen, n.; or cf. Prune.] 1. To dress with, or as with, a preen; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers; -- said of birds. Derham.

2. To trim up, as trees. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Pre`În*gage" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. PreÎngaged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. PreÎngaging (?).] To engage by previous contract; to bind or attach previously; to preoccupy.

But he was preÎngaged by former ties.

Dryden.

Pre`În*gage"ment (?), n. Prior engagement, obligation, or attachment, as by contract, promise, or affection.

My preÎngagements to other themes were not unknown to those for whom I was to write.

Boyle.