Part 509

Milton.

Pres"i*dent, n. [F. prÈsident, L. praesidens, -entis, p. pr. of praesidere. See Preside.] 1. One who is elected or appointed to preside; a presiding officer, as of a legislative body. Specifically: (a) The chief officer of a corporation, company, institution, society, or the like. (b) The chief executive officer of the government in certain republics; as, the president of the United States.

2. A protector; a guardian; a presiding genius. [Obs.]

Just Apollo, president of verse.

Waller.

Pres`i*den"tial (?), a. 1. Presiding or watching over. "Presidential angels." Glanvill.

2. Of or pertaining to a president; as, the presidential chair; a presidential election.

Pres"i*dent*ship (?), n. The office and dignity of president; presidency. Hooker.

Pre*sid"er (?), n. One who presides.

{ Pre*sid"i*al (?), Pre*sid"i*a*ry (?), } a. [L. praesidialis and praesidiarius, fr. praesidium a presiding over, defense, guard. See Preside.] Of or pertaining to a garrison; having a garrison.

There are three presidial castles in this city.

Howell.

Pre*sid"i*a*ry, n. [L. praesidiarium.] A guard. [Obs.] "Heavenly presidiaries." Bp. Hall.

Pre*sid"ing (?), a. & n. from Preside.

Presiding elder. See under 2d Elder.

||Pre*si"di*o (?), n. [Sp.] A place of defense; a fortress; a garrison; ||a fortress; a garrison or guardhouse.

Pre*sig`ni*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [&?;. praesignificatio. See Presignify.] The act of signifying or showing beforehand.

Pre*sig"ni*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presignified (?); imp. & p. p. Presignifying.] [L. praesignificare; prae before + significare to signify.] To intimate or signify beforehand; to presage.

Pre*sphe"noid (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the sphenoid bone; of or pertaining to the anterior part of the sphenoid bone (i. e., the presphenoid bone).

Presphenoid bone (Anat.), the anterior part of the body of the sphenoid bone in front of the basisphenoid. It is usually a separate bone in the young or fetus, but becomes a part of the sphenoid in the adult.

Pre*sphe"noid, n. (Anat.) The presphenoid bone.

Pre`sphe*noid"al (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the presphenoid bone; presphenoid.

Pre*spi"nal (?), a. (Anat.) Prevertebral.

Press (?), n. (Zoˆl.) An East Indian insectivore (Tupaia ferruginea). It is arboreal in its habits, and has a bushy tail. The fur is soft, and varies from rusty red to maroon and to brownish black.

Press, v. t. [Corrupt. fr. prest ready money advanced, a loan; hence, earnest money given soldiers on entering service. See Prest, n.] To force into service, particularly into naval service; to impress.

To peaceful peasant to the wars is pressed.

Dryden.

Press, n. [For prest, confused with press.] A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy.