Chapter 65

Pre*cur"so*ry (?), a. [L. praecursorius.] Preceding as a precursor or harbinger; indicating something to follow; as, precursory symptoms of a fever.

Pre*cur"so*ry, n. An introduction. [Obs.]

Pre*da"cean (?), n. [L. praeda prey.] (Zoˆl.) A carnivorous animal. Kirby.

Pre*da"ceous (?), a. [L. praeda prey. See Prey.] Living by prey; predatory. Derham.

Pre"dal (?), a. [L. praeda prey.] Of or pertaining to prey; plundering; predatory. [R.] Boyse.

Pre*date" (?), v. t. To date anticipation; to affix to (a document) an earlier than the actual date; to antedate; as, a predated deed or letter.

Pre*da"tion (?), n. [L. praedatio, fr. praedari to plunder.] The act of pillaging. E. Hall.

Pred"a*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a predatory manner.

Pred"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. praedatorius, fr. praedari to plunder, fr. praeda prey. See Prey.] 1. Characterized by plundering; practicing rapine; plundering; pillaging; as, a predatory excursion; a predatory party. "A predatory war." Macaulay.

2. Hungry; ravenous; as, predatory spirits. [Obs.]

Exercise . . . maketh the spirits more hot and predatory.

Bacon.

3. (Zoˆl.) Living by preying upon other animals; carnivorous.

Prede (?), v. i. [L. praedari. See Prey.] To prey; to plunder. [Obs.] Holinshed.

Prede, n. Prey; plunder; booty. [Obs.] Holinshed.

Pre"de*cay` (?), n. Premature decay.

Pre`de*cease (?), v. t. To die sooner than. "If children predecease progenitors." Shak.

Pre"de*cease` (?), n. The death of one person or thing before another. [R.] Brougham.

Pred`e*ces"sive (?), a. Going before; preceding. "Our predecessive students." Massinger.

Pred`e*ces"sor (?; 277), n. [L. praedecessor; prae before + decessor one who withdraws from the province he has governed, a retiring officer (with reference to his successor), a predecessor, fr. decedere: cf. F. prÈdÈcesseur. See Decease.] One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.

A prince who was as watchful as his predecessor had been over the interests of the state.

Prescott.

Pre`de*clare" (?), v. t. To declare or announce beforehand; to preannounce. Milman.

Pre*ded`i*ca"tion (?), n. A dedication made previously or beforehand.

Pre`de*fine (?), v. t. To define beforehand.

Pre`de*lib`er*a"tion, n. Previous deliberation.

Pre`de*lin`e*a"tion, n. Previous delineation.

||Pre*del"la (?), n. [It.] The step, or raised secondary part, of an ||altar; a superaltar; hence, in Italian painting, a band or frieze of ||several pictures running along the front of a superaltar, or forming ||a border or frame at the foot of an altarpiece.

Pre`de*sign" (?), v. t. To design or purpose beforehand; to predetermine. Mitford.

Pre*des"ig*nate (?), a. (Logic) A term used by Sir William Hamilton to define propositions having their quantity indicated by a verbal sign; as, all, none, etc.; -- contrasted with preindesignate, defining propositions of which the quantity is not so indicated.

Pre*des`ti*na"ri*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to predestination; as, the predestinarian controversy. Waterland.

Pre*des`ti*na"ri*an, n. One who believes in or supports the doctrine of predestination. Dr. H. More.

Pre*des`ti*na"ri*an*ism (?), n. The system or doctrine of the predestinarians.

Pre*des"ti*na*ry (?), a. Predestinarian. [Obs.] Heylin.

Pre*des"ti*nate (?), a. [L. praedestinatus, p. p. of praedestinare to predestine; prae before + destinare to determine. See Destine.] Predestinated; foreordained; fated. "A predestinate scratched face." Shak.

Pre*des"ti*nate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predestinated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predestinating.] [Cf. Predestine.] To predetermine or foreordain; to appoint or ordain beforehand by an unchangeable purpose or decree; to preÎlect.

Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.

Rom. viii. 29.

Syn. -- To predetermine; foreordain; preordain; decree; predestine; foredoom.

Pre*des`ti*na"tion (?), n. [L. praedestinatio: cf. F. prÈdestination.] 1. The act of predestinating.

Predestination had overruled their will.

Milton.

2. (Theol.) The purpose of Good from eternity respecting all events; especially, the preordination of men to everlasting happiness or misery. See Calvinism.

Pre*des"ti*na*tive (?), a. Determining beforehand; predestinating. [R.] Coleridge.

Pre*des"ti*na`tor (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈdestinateur.] 1. One who predestinates, or foreordains.

2. One who holds to the doctrine of predestination; a predestinarian. Cowley.

Pre*des"tine (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predestined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predestining.] [Cf. F. prÈdestiner. See Predestinate.] To decree beforehand; to foreordain; to predestinate. Young.

Pre*des"ti*ny (?), n. Predestination. [Obs.]

Pre`de*ter"mi*na*ble (?), a. Capable of being determined beforehand. Coleridge.

Pre`de*ter"mi*nate (?), a. Determined beforehand; as, the predeterminate counsel of God.

Pre`de*ter`mi*na"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈdÈtermination.] The act of previous determination; a purpose formed beforehand; as, the predetermination of God's will. Hammond.

Pre`de*ter"mine (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predetermined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predermining.] [Pref. pre- + determine: cf. F. prÈdÈterminer.] 1. To determine (something) beforehand. Sir M. Hale.

2. To doom by previous decree; to foredoom.

Pre`de*ter"mine, v. i. To determine beforehand.

Pre"di*al (?), a. [L. praedium a farm, estate: cf. F. prÈdial.] 1. Consisting of land or farms; landed; as, predial estate; that is, real estate. Ayliffe.

2. Attached to land or farms; as, predial slaves.

3. Issuing or derived from land; as, predial tithes.

Pre*di`as*tol"ic (?), a. (Physiol.) Preceding the diastole of the heart; as, a prediastolic friction sound.

Pred`i*ca*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being predicable, or affirmable of something, or attributed to something. Reid.

Pred"i*ca*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈdicable, L. praedicabilis praiseworthy. See Predicate.] Capable of being predicated or affirmed of something; affirmable; attributable.

Pred"i*ca*ble, n. 1. Anything affirmable of another; especially, a general attribute or notion as affirmable of, or applicable to, many individuals.

2. (Logic) One of the five most general relations of attributes involved in logical arrangements, namely, genus, species, difference, property, and accident.

Pre*dic"a*ment (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈdicament, L. praedicamentum. See Predicate.] 1. A class or kind described by any definite marks; hence, condition; particular situation or state; especially, an unfortunate or trying position or condition. "O woeful sympathy; piteous predicament!" Shak.

2. (Logic) See Category.

Syn. -- Category; condition; state; plight.

Pre*dic`a*men"tal (?), a. Of or pertaining to a predicament. John Hall (1646).

Pred"i*cant (?), a. [L. praedicans, -antis, p. pr. of praedicare. See Predicate.] Predicating; affirming; declaring; proclaiming; hence; preaching. "The Roman predicant orders." N. Brit. Rev.

Pred"i*cant, n. One who predicates, affirms, or proclaims; specifically, a preaching friar; a Dominican.

Pred"i*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predicated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predicating.] [L. praedicatus, p. p. of praedicare to cry in public, to proclaim. See Preach.] 1. To assert to belong to something; to affirm (one thing of another); as, to predicate whiteness of snow.

2. To found; to base. [U.S.]

Predicate is sometimes used in the United States for found or base; as, to predicate an argument on certain principles; to predicate a statement on information received. Predicate is a term in logic, and used only in a single case, namely, when we affirm one thing of another. "Similitude is not predicated of essences or substances, but of figures and qualities only." Cudworth.

Pred"i*cate, v. i. To affirm something of another thing; to make an affirmation. Sir M. Hale.

Pred"i*cate (?), n. [L. praedicatum, neut. of praedicatus, p. p. praedicare: cf. F. prÈdicat. See Predicate, v. t.] 1. (Logic) That which is affirmed or denied of the subject. In these propositions, "Paper is white," "Ink is not white," whiteness is the predicate affirmed of paper and denied of ink.

2. (Gram.) The word or words in a proposition which express what is affirmed of the subject.

Syn. -- Affirmation; declaration.

Pred"i*cate, a. [L. praedicatus, p. p.] Predicated.

Pred`i*ca"tion (?), n. [L. praedicatio: cf. F. prÈdication.] 1. The act of predicating, or of affirming one thing of another; affirmation; assertion. Locke.

2. Preaching. [Obs. or Scot.] Chaucer.

Pred"i*ca*tive (?), a. [L. praedicativus.] Expressing affirmation or predication; affirming; predicating, as, a predicative term. -- Pred"i*ca*tive*ly, adv.

Pred"i*ca*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. L. praedicatorius praising.] Affirmative; positive. Bp. Hall.

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Pre`di*crot"ic (?), a. (Physiol.) A term applied to the pulse wave sometimes seen in a pulse curve or sphygmogram, between the apex of the curve and the dicrotic wave.

The predicrotic or tidal wave is best marked in a hard pulse, i. e., where the blood pressure is high.

Landois & Stirling.

Pre*dict" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Predicting.] [L. praedictus, p. p. of praedicere to predict; prae before + dicere to say, tell. See Diction, and cf. Preach.] To tell or declare beforehand; to foretell; to prophesy; to presage; as, to predict misfortune; to predict the return of a comet.

Syn. -- To foretell; prophesy; prognosticate; presage; forebode; foreshow; bode.

Pre*dict", n. A prediction. [Obs.] Shak.

Pre*dict"a*ble (?), a. That may be predicted.

Pre*dic"tion (?), n. [L. praedictio: cf. F. prÈdiction.] The act of foretelling; also, that which is foretold; prophecy.

The predictions of cold and long winters.

Bacon.

Syn. -- Prophecy; prognostication; foreboding; augury; divination; soothsaying; vaticination.

Pre*dic"tion*al (?), a. Prophetic; prognostic. [R.]

Pre*dict"ive (?), a. [L. praedictivus.] Foretelling; prophetic; foreboding. - - Pre*dict"ive*ly, adv.

Pre*dict"or (?), n. One who predicts; a foreteller.

Pre*dict"o*ry (?), a. Predictive. [R.] Fuller.

Pre`di*gest" (?), v. t. (Med.) To subject (food) to predigestion or artificial digestion.

Pre`di*ges"tion (?), n. 1. Digestion too soon performed; hasty digestion. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. (Med.) Artificial digestion of food for use in illness or impaired digestion.

Pre`di*lect" (?), v. t. To elect or choose beforehand. [R.] Walter Harte.

Pre`di*lec"tion (?), n. [Pref. pre- + L. dilectus, p. p. diligere to prefer: cf. F. prÈdilection. See Diligent.] A previous liking; a prepossession of mind in favor of something; predisposition to choose or like; partiality. Burke.

Pre`dis*cov"er (?), v. t. To discover beforehand.

Pre`dis*cov"er*y (?), n. A previous discovery.

Pre`dis*po"nen*cy (?), n. The state of being predisposed; predisposition. [R.]

Pre`dis*po"nent (?), a. Disposing beforehand; predisposing. -- n. That which predisposes.

Predisponent causes. (Med.) See Predisposing causes, under Predispose. Dunglison.

Pre`dis*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predisposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predisposing.] [Pref. pre- + dispose: cf. F. prÈdisposer.] 1. To dispose or incline beforehand; to give a predisposition or bias to; as, to predispose the mind to friendship.

2. To make fit or susceptible beforehand; to give a tendency to; as, debility predisposes the body to disease.

Predisposing causes (Med.), causes which render the body liable to disease; predisponent causes.

Pre*dis`po*si"tion (?), n.[Pref. pre- + disposition: cf. F. prÈdisposition.] 1. The act of predisposing, or the state of being predisposed; previous inclination, tendency, or propensity; predilection; -- applied to the mind; as, a predisposition to anger.

2. Previous fitness or adaptation to any change, impression, or purpose; susceptibility; -- applied to material things; as, the predisposition of the body to disease.

Pre*dom"i*nance (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈdominance.] 1. The quality or state of being predominant; superiority; ascendency; prevalence; predomination.

The predominance of conscience over interest.

South.

2. (Astrol.) The superior influence of a planet. Shak.

Pre*dom"i*nan*cy (?), n. Predominance. Bacon.

Pre*dom"i*nant (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈdominant. See Predominante.] Having the ascendency over others; superior in strength, influence, or authority; prevailing; as, a predominant color; predominant excellence.

Those help . . . were predominant in the king's mind.

Bacon.

Foul subordination is predominant.

Shak.

Syn. -- Prevalent; superior; prevailing; ascendant; ruling; reigning; controlling; overruling.

Pre*dom"i*nant*ly, adv. In a predominant manner.

Pre*dom"i*nate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Predominated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predominating.] [Pref. pre- + dominate: cf. F. prÈdominer.] To be superior in number, strength, influence, or authority; to have controlling power or influence; to prevail; to rule; to have the mastery; as, love predominated in her heart.

[Certain] rays may predominate over the rest.

Sir. I. Newton.

Pre*dom"i*nate, v. t. To rule over; to overpower. [R.]

Pre*dom`i*na"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈdomination.] The act or state of predominating; ascendency; predominance. W. Browne.

Pre*doom" (?), v. t. To foredoom.

Pre*dor"sal (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the back; immediately in front, or on the ventral side the dorsal part of the vertebral column.

Pre"dy (?), a. [Cf. F. prÍt ready.] Cleared and ready for engagement, as a ship. Smart.

Preed"y (?), adv. With ease. [Prov. Eng.]

Preef (?), n. Proof. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pre`Î*lect" (?), v. t. To elect beforehand.

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.

Pre`Î*rect" (?), v. t. To erect beforehand.

Prees (?), n. Press; throng. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pre`Îs*tab"lish, v. t. To establish beforehand.

Pre`Îs*tab"lish*ment, n. Settlement beforehand.

Pre`Î*ter"ni*ty (?), n. Infinite previous duration. [R.] "The world's preÎternity." Cudworth.

Pre`Îx*am`i*na"tion (?), n. Previous examination.

Pre`Îx*am"ine (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. PreÎxamined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. PreÎxamining.] To examine beforehand.

Pre`Îx*ist" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. PreÎxisted; p. pr. & vb. n. PreÎxisting.] To exist previously; to exist before something else.

Pre`Îx*ist"ence (?), n. 1. Existence in a former state, or previous to something else.

Wisdom declares her antiquity and preÎxistence to all the works of this earth.

T. Burnet.

2. Existence of the soul before its union with the body; -- a doctrine held by certain philosophers. Addison.

Pre`Îx*ist"en*cy (?), n. PreÎxistence. [Obs.]

Pre`Îx*ist"ent (?), a. Existing previously; preceding existence; as, a preÎxistent state. Pope.

Pre`Îx*ist"ent*ism (?), n. (Philos.) The theory of a preÎxistence of souls before their association with human bodies. Emerson.

Pre`Îx*is`ti*ma"tion (?), n. Previous esteem or estimation. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Pre*Îx`pec*ta"tion (?), n. Previous expectation.

Pref"ace (?; 48), n. [F. prÈface; cf. Sp. prefacio, prefacion, It. prefazio, prefazione; all fr. L. praefatio, fr. praefari to speak or say beforehand; prae before + fari, fatus, to speak. See Fate.] 1. Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay; a proem; an introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.

This superficial tale Is but a preface of her worthy praise.

Shak.

Heaven's high behest no preface needs.

Milton.

2. (R. C. Ch.) The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass. Addis & Arnold.

Proper preface (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.), a portion of the communion service, preceding the prayer of consecration, appointed for certain seasons.

Syn. -- Introduction; preliminary; preamble; proem; prelude; prologue.

Pref"ace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prefaced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prefacing.] To introduce by a preface; to give a preface to; as, to preface a book discourse.

Pref"ace, v. i. To make a preface. Jer. Taylor.

Pref"a*cer (?), n. The writer of a preface.

Pref`a*to"ri*al (?), a. Prefatory.

Pref"a*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a prefatory manner; by way of preface.

Pref"a*to*ry (?), a. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a preface; introductory to a book, essay, or discourse; as, prefatory remarks.

That prefatory addition to the Creed.

Dryden.

Pre"fect (?), n. [L. praefectus, fr. praefectus, p. p. of praeficere to set over; prae before + facere to make: cf. F. prÈfet.] 1. A Roman officer who controlled or superintended a particular command, charge, department, etc.; as, the prefect of the aqueducts; the prefect of a camp, of a fleet, of the city guard, of provisions; the pretorian prefect, who was commander of the troops guarding the emperor's person.

2. A superintendent of a department who has control of its police establishment, together with extensive powers of municipal regulation. [France] Brande & C.

3. In the Greek and Roman Catholic churches, a title of certain dignitaries below the rank of bishop.

Apostolic prefect (R. C. Ch.), the head of a mission, not of episcopal rank. Shipley.

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

Pre"fect*ship (?), n. The office or jurisdiction of a prefect.

Pre"fec*ture (?; 277), n. [L. praefectura: cf. F. prÈfecture.] The office, position, or jurisdiction of a prefect; also, his official residence.

Pre*fec`un*da"tion (?), n. (Physiol.) A term collectively applied to the changes or conditions preceding fecundation, especially to the changes which the ovum undergoes before fecundation.

Pre`fe*cun"da*to*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to prefecundation.

Pre*fer" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preferred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preferring.] [F. prÈfÈrer, L. praeferre; prae before + ferre to bear or carry. See 1st Bear.] 1. To carry or bring (something) forward, or before one; hence, to bring for consideration, acceptance, judgment, etc.; to offer; to present; to proffer; to address; -- said especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc.

He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl.

Pope.

Presently prefer his suit to CÊsar.

Shak.

Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high.

Byron.

2. To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass. [Obs.] "Though maidenhood prefer bigamy." Chaucer.

3. To cause to go before; hence, to advance before others, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; to promote; as, to prefer an officer to the rank of general.

I would prefer him to a better place.

Shak.

4. To set above or before something else in estimation, favor, or liking; to regard or honor before another; to hold in greater favor; to choose rather; -- often followed by to, before, or above.

If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Ps. cxxxvii. 6.

Preferred an infamous peace before a most just war.

Knolles.

Preferred stock, stock which takes a dividend before other capital stock; -- called also preference stock and preferential stock.

Syn. -- To choose; elect. See Choose.

Pref`er*a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being preferable; preferableness. J. S. Mill.

Pref"er*a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈfÈrable.] Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more desirable; as, a preferable scheme. Addison.

Pref"er*a*ble*ness, n. The quality or state of being preferable.

Pref"er*a*bly, adv. In preference; by choice.

To choose Plautus preferably to Terence.

Dennis.

Pref"er*ence (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈfÈrence.] 1. The act of Preferring, or the state of being preferred; the setting of one thing before another; precedence; higher estimation; predilection; choice; also, the power or opportunity of choosing; as, to give him his preference.

Leave the critics on either side to contend about the preference due to this or that sort of poetry.

Dryden.

Knowledge of things alone gives a value to our reasonings, and preference of one man's knowledge over another's.

Locke.

2. That which is preferred; the object of choice or superior favor; as, which is your preference?

Pref`er*en"tial (?), a. Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential claim; preferential shares.

Pre*fer"ment (?), n. 1. The act of choosing, or the state of being chosen; preference. [R.]

Natural preferment of the one . . . before the other.

Sir T. Browne.

2. The act of preferring, or advancing in dignity or office; the state of being advanced; promotion.

Neither royal blandishments nor promises of valuable preferment had been spared.

Macaulay.

3. A position or office of honor or profit; as, the preferments of the church.

Pre*fer"rer (?), n. One who prefers.

Pref"i*dence (?), n. The quality or state of being prefident. [Obs.] Baxter.

Pref"i*dent (?), a. [Cf. L. praefidens overconfident. See Pre-, and Confident.] Trusting beforehand; hence, overconfident. [Obs.] Baxter.

Pre*fig"u*rate (?), v. t. [L. praefiguratus, p. p. See Prefigure.] To prefigure. [R.] Grafton.