Part 513

Prest (prst), imp. & p. p. of Press.

Prest, a. [OF. prest, F. prÍt, fr. L. praestus ready. Cf. Presto.] 1. Ready; prompt; prepared. [Obs.]

All prest to such battle he was.

R. of Gloucester.

2. Neat; tidy; proper. [Obs.] Tusser.

Prest money, money formerly paid to men when they enlisted into the British service; -- so called because it bound those that received it to be ready for service when called upon.

Prest, n. [OF. prest, F. prÍt, fr. OF. prester to lend, F. prÍter, fr. L. praestare to stand before, to become surety for, to fulfill, offer, supply; prae before + stare to stand. See Pre-, and Stand, and cf. Press to force into service.] 1. Ready money; a loan of money. [Obs.]

Requiring of the city a prest of six thousand marks.

Bacon.

2. (Law) A duty in money formerly paid by the sheriff on his account in the exchequer, or for money left or remaining in his hands. Cowell.

Prest, v. t. To give as a loan; to lend. [Obs.]

Sums of money . . . prested out in loan.

E. Hall.

Prest"a*ble (?), a. Payable. [Scot.]

Pres*ta"tion (?), n. [L. praestatio a performing, paying, fr. praestare: cf. F. prestation.] (O. Eng. Law) A payment of money; a toll or duty; also, the rendering of a service. Burrill.

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Prestation money, a sum of money paid yearly by archdeacons and other dignitaries to their bishop.

Pres"ter (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, from &?; to kindle or burn, and &?; to blow up, swell out by blowing.] 1. A meteor or exhalation formerly supposed to be thrown from the clouds with such violence that by collision it is set on fire. [Obs.]

2. pl. One of the veins of the neck when swollen with anger or other excitement. [Obs.]

Pres"ter, n. [OF. prestre. See Priest.] A priest or presbyter; as, Prester John. [Obs.]

Pre*ster"num (?), n. [NL.] (Anat.) The anterior segment of the sternum; the manubrium. -- Pre*ster"nal (#), a.

Pres`ti*dig"i*tal (?), a. Nimble- fingered; having fingers fit for prestidigitation, or juggling. [R.] "His prestidigital hand." Charles Reade.

Pres`ti*dig`i*ta"tion (?), n. Legerdemain; sleight of hand; juggling.

Pres`ti*dig"i*ta`tor (?), n. [L. praesto ready + digitus finger: cf. F. prestidigitateur.] One skilled in legerdemain or sleight of hand; a juggler.

Pres"tige (?; 277), n. [F., fr. L. praestigum delusion, illusion, praestigae deceptions, jugglers' tricks, prob. fr. prae before + the root of stinguere to extinguish, originally, to prick. See Stick, v.] 1. Delusion; illusion; trick. [Obs.]

The sophisms of infidelity, and the prestiges of imposture.

Bp. Warburton.

2. Weight or influence derived from past success; expectation of future achievements founded on those already accomplished; force or charm derived from acknowledged character or reputation. "The prestige of his name must go for something." Sir G. C. Lewis.