Part 499

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; preÎminence; first rank. [Obs.]

Then give me leave to have prerogative.

Shak.

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.

Pre*rog"a*tived (?), a. Endowed with a prerogative, or exclusive privilege. [R.] Shak.

Pre*rog"a*tive*ly (?), adv. By prerogative.

Pre"sage (?), n. [F. prÈsage, L. praesagium, from praesagire. See Presage, 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.

Pre*sage" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presaged (-sjd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Presaging. ] [F. prÈsager, L. praesagire: prae before + sagire to 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.

Pre*sage", v. i. To form or utter a prediction; -- sometimes used with of. Dryden.

Pre*sage"ful (?), a. Full of presages; ominous.

Dark in the glass of some presageful mood.

Tennyson.

Pre*sage"ment (?), n.