Chapter 1195

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

Sir T. Browne.

Prearm <Xpage=1125>

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

Prearrange <Xpage=1125>

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

Prease <Xpage=1125>

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

Spenser.

Preassurance <Xpage=1125>

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

Coleridge.

Preataxic <Xpage=1125>

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

Preaudience <Xpage=1125>

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

Blackstone.

Preaxial <Xpage=1125>

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.

Preend <Xpage=1125>

Pre"end (?) , n. [F. pr\'82bende (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.

Prebendal <Xpage=1125>

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

Chesterfield.

Prebendary <Xpage=1125>

Preb"en*da*ry (?) , n. [LL. praebendarius : cf. F. pr\'82bendaire . 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.

Prebendaryship <Xpage=1125>

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

Prebendate <Xpage=1125>

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.

Prebendship <Xpage=1125>

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

Foxe.

Prebronchial <Xpage=1125>

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.

Precalculate <Xpage=1125>

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

Masson.

Precant <Xpage=1125>

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

Coleridge.

Precarious <Xpage=1125>

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.

Precation <Xpage=1125>

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

Cotton.

Preative, Preatory <Xpage=1125>

Pre"a*tive (?) , Pre"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.

Precaution <Xpage=1125>

Pre*cau"tion (?) , n. [F. pr\'82cation , 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 .

They [ancient philosophers] treasured up their supposed discoveries with miserable precaution . J. H. Newman.

2. A measure taken beforehand to ward off evil or secure good or success; a precautionary act; as, to take precautions against accident .

Precaution <Xpage=1125>

Pre*cau"tion , v. t. [Cf. F. pr\'82cautionner .] 1. To warn or caution beforehand.

Locke.

<page="1126"> Page 1126

2. To take precaution against. [R.]

Dryden.

Precautional <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cau"tion*al (?) , a. Precautionary.

Precautionary <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cau"tion*a*ry (?) , a. Of or pertaining to precaution, or precautions; as, precautionary signals .

Precautious <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cau"tious (?) , a. Taking or using precaution; precautionary. -- Pre*cau"tious*ly , adv. -- Pre*cau"*tious*ness , n.

Precedaneous <Xpage=1126>

Pre`ce*da"ne*ous (?) , a. Preceding; antecedent; previous. [Obs.]

Hammond.

Precede <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cede" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preceded ; p. pr. & vb. n. Preceding .] [L. praecedere , praecessum ; prae before + cedere to go, to be in motion: cf. F. pr\'82ceder . See Pre- , and Cede .] 1. To go before in order of time; to occur first with relation to anything. "Harm precedes not sin."

Milton.

2. To go before in place, rank, or importance.

3. To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce; -- used with by or with before the instrumental object. [R.]

It is usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration. Kent.

Precedence, Precedency <Xpage=1126>

Pre*ced"ence (?) , Pre*ced"en*cy (?) , n. [Cf. F. pr\'82c\'82dence . See Precede .] 1. The act or state of preceding or going before in order of time; priority; as, one event has precedence of another .

2. The act or state of going or being before in rank or dignity, or the place of honor; right to a more honorable place; superior rank; as, barons have precedence of commoners .

Which of them [the different desires] has the precedency in determining the will to the next action? Locke.

Syn. -- Antecedence; priority; pre\'89minence; preference; superiority.

Precedent <Xpage=1126>

Pre*ced"ent (?) , a. [L. praecedens , -entis , p. pr. of praecedere : cf. F. pr\'82c\'82dent . See Precede .] Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent services . Shak. "A precedent injury."

Bacon.

Condition precedent (Law) , a condition which precede the vesting of an estate, or the accruing of a right.

Precedent <Xpage=1126>

Prec"e*dent (?) , n. 1. Something done or said that may serve as an example to authorize a subsequent act of the same kind; an authoritative example.

Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only. Hooker.

2. A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent; hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign. [Obs.]

3. A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy. [Obs.]

Shak.

4. (Law) A judicial decision which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases; an authority to be followed in courts of justice; forms of proceeding to be followed in similar cases.

Wharton.

Syn. -- Example; antecedent. -- Precedent , Example . An example in a similar case which may serve as a rule or guide, but has no authority out of itself. A precedent is something which comes down to us from the past with the sanction of usage and of common consent. We quote examples in literature, and precedents in law.

Precedented <Xpage=1126>

Prec"e*dent*ed , a. Having a precedent; authorized or sanctioned by an example of a like kind.

Walpole.

Precedential <Xpage=1126>

Prec`e*den"tial (?) , a. Of the nature of a precedent; having force as an example for imitation; as, precedential transactions .

All their actions in that time are not precedential to warrant posterity. Fuller.

Precedently <Xpage=1126>

Pre*ced"ent*ly (?) , adv. Beforehand; antecedently.

Preceding <Xpage=1126>

Pre*ced"ing , a. 1. Going before; -- opposed to following .

2. (Astron.) In the direction toward which stars appear to move. See Following , 2.

Precel <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cel" (?) , v. t. & i. [See Precellence .] To surpass; to excel; to exceed. [Obs.]

Howell.

Precellence, Precellency <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cel"lence (?) , Pre*cel"len*cy (?) , n. [L. praecellentia , from praecellens , p. pr. of praecellere to excel, surpass: cf. OF. precellence .] Excellence; superiority. [Obs.]

Sheldon.

Precellent <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cel"lent (?) , a. [L. praecellens , p. pr.] Excellent; surpassing. [Obs.]

Holland.

Precentor <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cen"tor (?) , n. [L. praecentor , fr. praecinere to sing before; prae before + canere to sing. See Chant .] A leader of a choir; a directing singer. Specifically: (a) The leader of the choir in a cathedral; -- called also the chanter or master of the choir. Hook . (b) The leader of the congregational singing in Scottish and other churches.

Precentorship <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cen"tor*ship , n. The office of a precentor.

Precent <Xpage=1126>

Pre"cent (?) , n. [L. praeceptum , from praecipere to take beforehand, to instruct, teach; prae before + capere to take: cf. F. pr\'82cepte . See Pre- , and Capacious .] 1. Any commandment, instruction, or order intended as an authoritative rule of action; esp., a command respecting moral conduct; an injunction; a rule.

For precept must be upon precept . Isa. xxviii. 10.

No arts are without their precepts . Dryden.

2. (Law) A command in writing; a species of writ or process.

Burrill.

Syn. -- Commandment; injunction; mandate; law; rule; direction; principle; maxim. See Doctrine .

Precept <Xpage=1126>

Pre"cept , v. t. To teach by precepts. [Obs.]

Bacon.

Preceptial <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cep"tial (?) , a. Preceptive. [Obs.]

[Passion] would give preceptial medicine to rage. Shak.

Preception <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cep"tion (?) , n. [L. praeceptio .] A precept. [R.]

Bp. Hall.

Preceptive <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cep"tive (?) , a. [L. praeceptivus .] Containing or giving precepts; of the nature of precepts; didactic; as, the preceptive parts of the Scriptures .

The lesson given us here is preceptive to us. L'Estrange.

Preceptor <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cep"tor (?) , n. [L. praeceptor , fr. praecipere to teach: cf. F. pr\'82cepteur . See Precept .] 1. One who gives commands, or makes rules; specifically, the master or principal of a school; a teacher; an instructor.

2. The head of a preceptory among the Knights Templars.

Sir W. Scott.

Preceptorial <Xpage=1126>

Pre`cep*to"ri*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a preceptor.

Preceptory <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cep"to*ry (?; 277) , a. Preceptive. "A law preceptory ."

Anderson (1573).

Preceptory <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cep"to*ry , n. ; pl. Preceptories (#) . [LL. praeceptoria an estate assigned to a preceptor, from L. praeceptor a commander, ruler, teacher, in LL., procurator, administrator among the Knights Templars. See Preceptor .] A religious house of the Knights Templars, subordinate to the temple or principal house of the order in London. See Commandery , n. , 2.

Preceptress <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cep"tress (?) , n. A woman who is the principal of a school; a female teacher.

Precession <Xpage=1126>

Pre*ces"sion (?) , n. [L. praecedere , praecessum , to go before: cf. F. pr\'82cession . See Precede .] The act of going before, or forward.

Lunisolar precession . (Astron.) See under Lunisolar . -- Planetary precession , that part of the precession of the equinoxes which depends on the action of the planets alone. -- Precession of the equinoxes (Astron.) , the slow backward motion of the equinoctial points along the ecliptic, at the rate of 50.2&sec; annually, caused by the action of the sun, moon, and planets, upon the protuberant matter about the earth's equator, in connection with its diurnal rotation; -- so called because either equinox, owing to its westerly motion, comes to the meridian sooner each day than the point it would have occupied without the motion of precession, and thus precedes that point continually with reference to the time of transit and motion.

Precessional <Xpage=1126>

Pre*ces"sion*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to pression; as, the precessional movement of the equinoxes .

Precessor <Xpage=1126>

Pre*ces"sor (?) , n. [L. praecessor .] A predecessor. [Obs.]

Fuller.

Precinct <Xpage=1126>

Pre"cinct (?; 277) , n. [LL. praecinctum , fr. L. praecingere , praecinctum , to gird about, to encompass; prae before + cingere to gird, surround. See Pre- , and Cincture .] 1. The limit or exterior line encompassing a place; a boundary; a confine; limit of jurisdiction or authority; -- often in the plural; as, the precincts of a state . "The precincts of light."

Milton.

2. A district within certain boundaries; a minor territorial or jurisdictional division; as, an election precinct ; a school precinct .

3. A parish or prescribed territory attached to a church, and taxed for its support. [U.S.]

The parish, or precinct , shall proceed to a new choice. Laws of Massachusetts.

Preciosity <Xpage=1126>

Pre`ci*os"i*ty (?) , n. Preciousness; something precious. [Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

Precious <Xpage=1126>

Pre"cious (?) , a. [OF. precious , precius , precios , F. pr\'82cieux , L. pretiosus , fr. pretium price, worth, value. See Price .] 1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone . "The precious bane."

Milton.

2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as, precious recollections .

She is more precious than rules. Prov. iii. 15.

Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of them lieth hid. Hooker.

Also used ironically; as, a precious rascal.

3. Particular; fastidious; overnice. [Obs.]

Lest that precious folk be with me wroth. Chaucer.

Precious metals , the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and silver. -- Precious stones , gems; jewels.

Preciously <Xpage=1126>

Pre"cious*ly , adv. In a precious manner; expensively; extremely; dearly. Also used ironically.

Preciousness <Xpage=1126>

Pre"cious*ness , n. The quality or state of being precious; costliness; dearness.

Precipe <Xpage=1126>

Prec"i*pe (?) , n. (Law) See Pr\'91cipe , and Precept .

Precipice <Xpage=1126>

Prec"i*pice (?) , n. [F. pr\'82cipice , L. praecipitium , fr. praeceps , -cipitis , headlong; prae before + caput , capitis , the head. See Pre- , and Chief .] 1. A sudden or headlong fall. [Obs.]

Fuller.

2. A headlong steep; a very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging place; an abrupt declivity; a cliff.

Where wealth like fruit on precipices grew. Dryden.

Precipient <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cip"i*ent (?) , a. [L. praecipiens , p. pr. See Precept .] Commanding; directing.

Precipitability <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cip`i*ta*bil"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being precipitable.

Precipitable <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cip"i*ta*ble (?) , a. Capable of being precipitated, or cast to the bottom, as a substance in solution. See Precipitate , n. (Chem.)

Precipitance, Precipitancy <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cip"i*tance (?) , Pre*cip"i*tan*cy (?) , n. [From Precipitant .] The quality or state of being precipitant, or precipitate; headlong hurry; excessive or rash haste in resolving, forming an opinion, or executing a purpose; precipitation; as, the precipitancy of youth . " Precipitance of judgment."

I. Watts.

Precipitant <Xpage=1126>

Pre*cip"i*tant (?) , a. [L. praecipitans , -antis , p. pr. of praecipitare : cf. F. pr\'82cipitant . See Precipitate .] 1. Falling or rushing headlong; rushing swiftly, violently, or recklessly; moving precipitately.

They leave their little lives Above the clouds, precipitant to earth. J. Philips.

Should he return, that troop so blithe and bold, Precipitant in fear would wing their flight. Pope.

2. Unexpectedly or foolishly brought on or hastened; rashly hurried; hasty; sudden; reckless. Jer. Taylor . " Precipitant rebellion." Eikon Basilike .