Chapter 69

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.

I have misused the king's press.

Shak.

Press gang, or Pressgang, a detachment of seamen under the command of an officer empowered to force men into the naval service. See Impress gang, under Impress. -- Press money, money paid to a man enlisted into public service. See Prest money, under Prest, a.

Press, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pressed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pressing.] [F. presser, fr. L. pressare to press, fr. premere, pressum, to press. Cf. Print, v.] 1. To urge, or act upon, with force, as weight; to act upon by pushing or thrusting, in distinction from pulling; to crowd or compel by a gradual and continued exertion; to bear upon; to squeeze; to compress; as, we press the ground with the feet when we walk; we press the couch on which we repose; we press substances with the hands, fingers, or arms; we are pressed in a crowd.

Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together.

Luke vi. 38.

2. To squeeze, in order to extract the juice or contents of; to squeeze out, or express, from something.

From sweet kernels pressed, She tempers dulcet creams.

Milton.

And I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

Gen. xl. 11.

3. To squeeze in or with suitable instruments or apparatus, in order to compact, make dense, or smooth; as, to press cotton bales, paper, etc.; to smooth by ironing; as, to press clothes.

4. To embrace closely; to hug.

Leucothoe shook at these alarms, And pressed Palemon closer in her arms.

Pope.

5. To oppress; to bear hard upon.

Press not a falling man too far.

Shak.

6. To straiten; to distress; as, to be pressed with want or hunger.

7. To exercise very powerful or irresistible influence upon or over; to constrain; to force; to compel.

Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

Acts xviii. 5.

8. To try to force (something upon some one); to urge or inculcate with earnestness or importunity; to enforce; as, to press divine truth on an audience.

He pressed a letter upon me within this hour.

Dryden.

Be sure to press upon him every motive.

Addison.

9. To drive with violence; to hurry; to urge on; to ply hard; as, to press a horse in a race.

The posts . . . went cut, being hastened and pressed on, by the king's commandment.

Esther viii. 14.

Press differs from drive and strike in usually denoting a slow or continued application of force; whereas drive and strike denote a sudden impulse of force.

Pressed brick. See under Brick.

Press, v. i. 1. To exert pressure; to bear heavily; to push, crowd, or urge with steady force.

2. To move on with urging and crowding; to make one's way with violence or effort; to bear onward forcibly; to crowd; to throng; to encroach.

They pressed upon him for to touch him.

Mark iii. 10.

3. To urge with vehemence or importunity; to exert a strong or compelling influence; as, an argument presses upon the judgment.

Press, n. [F. presse. See 4th Press.] 1. An apparatus or machine by which any substance or body is pressed, squeezed, stamped, or shaped, or by which an impression of a body is taken; sometimes, the place or building containing a press or presses.

Presses are differently constructed for various purposes in the arts, their specific uses being commonly designated; as, a cotton press, a wine press, a cider press, a copying press, etc. See Drill press.

2. Specifically, a printing press.

3. The art or business of printing and publishing; hence, printed publications, taken collectively, more especially newspapers or the persons employed in writing for them; as, a free press is a blessing, a licentious press is a curse.

4. An upright case or closet for the safe keeping of articles; as, a clothes press. Shak.

5. The act of pressing or thronging forward.

In their throng and press to that last hold.

Shak.

6. Urgent demands of business or affairs; urgency; as, a press of engagements.

7. A multitude of individuals crowded together; &?; crowd of single things; a throng.

They could not come nigh unto him for the press.

Mark ii. 4.

Cylinder press, a printing press in which the impression is produced by a revolving cylinder under which the form passes; also, one in which the form of type or plates is curved around a cylinder, instead of resting on a flat bed. -- Hydrostatic press. See under Hydrostatic. -- Liberty of the press, the free right of publishing books, pamphlets, or papers, without previous restraint or censorship, subject only to punishment for libelous, seditious, or morally pernicious matters. -- Press bed, a bed that may be folded, and inclosed, in a press or closet. Boswell. -- Press of sail, (Naut.), as much sail as the state of the wind will permit.

Press"er (?), n. One who, or that which, presses.

Presser bar, or Presser wheel (Knitting machine), a bar or wheel which closes the barbs of the needles to enable the loops of the yarn to pass over them. -- Presser foot, the part of a sewing machine which rests on the cloth and presses it down upon the table of the machine.

Press"gang` (?), n. See Press gang, under Press.

Press"ing, a. Urgent; exacting; importunate; as, a pressing necessity. -- Press"ing*ly, adv.

Pres"sion (?), n. [L. pressio: cf. F. pression. See 4th Press.] 1. The act of pressing; pressure. Sir I. Newton.

2. (Cartesian Philos.) An endeavor to move.

Pres`si*ros"ter (?), n. [L. presssus pressed (p. p. of premere) + rostrum beak: cf. F. pressirostre. See 4th Press.] (Zoˆl.) One of a tribe of wading birds (Pressirostres) including those which have a compressed beak, as the plovers.

Pres`si*ros"tral (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the pressirosters.

Pres"si*tant (?), a. [See 4th Press.] Gravitating; heavy. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Pres"sive (?), a. Pressing; urgent; also, oppressive; as, pressive taxation. [R.] Bp. Hall.

Press"ly (?), adv. Closely; concisely. [Obs.]

Press"man (?), n.; pl. Pressmen (&?;). 1. One who manages, or attends to, a press, esp. a printing press.

2. One who presses clothes; as, a tailor's pressman.

Press"man, n. [See 2d Press.] One of a press gang, who aids in forcing men into the naval service; also, one forced into the service.

Press"or (?), a. (Physiol.) Causing, or giving rise to, pressure or to an increase of pressure; as, pressor nerve fibers, stimulation of which excites the vasomotor center, thus causing a stronger contraction of the arteries and consequently an increase of the arterial blood pressure; -- opposed to depressor. Landois & Stirling.

Press"pack` (?), v. t. To pack, or prepare for packing, by means of a press.

Pres"sur*age (?), n. [F.] 1. Pressure.

2. The juice of the grape extracted by the press; also, a fee paid for the use of a wine press.

Pres"sure (?; 138), n. [OF., fr. L. pressura, fr. premere. See 4th Press.] 1. The act of pressing, or the condition of being pressed; compression; a squeezing; a crushing; as, a pressure of the hand.

2. A contrasting force or impulse of any kind; as, the pressure of poverty; the pressure of taxes; the pressure of motives on the mind; the pressure of civilization.

Where the pressure of danger was not felt.

Macaulay.

3. Affliction; distress; grievance.

My people's pressures are grievous.

Eikon Basilike.

In the midst of his great troubles and pressures.

Atterbury.

4. Urgency; as, the pressure of business.

5. Impression; stamp; character impressed.

All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past.

Shak.

6. (Mech.) The action of a force against some obstacle or opposing force; a force in the nature of a thrust, distributed over a surface, often estimated with reference to the amount upon a unit's area.

Atmospheric pressure, Center of pressure, etc. See under Atmospheric, Center, etc. -- Back pressure (Steam engine), pressure which resists the motion of the piston, as the pressure of exhaust steam which does not find free outlet. -- Fluid pressure, pressure like that exerted by a fluid. It is a thrust which is normal and equally intense in all directions around a point. Rankine. -- Pressure gauge, a gauge for indicating fluid pressure; a manometer.

Press"work` (?), n. The art of printing from the surface of type, plates, or engravings in relief, by means of a press; the work so done. MacKellar.

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.

Pres*tig`i*a"tion (?), n. [L. praestigiare to deceive by juggling tricks, fr. praestigae. See Prestige.] Legerdemain; prestidigitation. [Obs.]

Pres*tig"i*a`tor (?), n. [L. praestigiator.] A juggler; prestidigitator. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Pres*tig"i*a*to*ry (?), a. Consisting of impostures; juggling. [Obs.] Barrow.

Pres*tig"i*ous (?), a. [L. praestigiosus.] Practicing tricks; juggling. [Obs.] Cotton Mather.

Pres"ti*mo*ny (?), n. [LL. praestimonium, fr. L. praestare to furnish, supply: cf. F. prestimonie. See Prest, n.] (Canon Law) A fund for the support of a priest, without the title of a benefice. The patron in the collator.

||Pres*tis"si*mo (?), adv. [It., superl. of presto.] (Mus.) Very ||quickly; with great rapidity.

Pres"to (?), adv. [It. or Sp. presto quick, quickly. See Prest, a.] 1. Quickly; immediately; in haste; suddenly.

Presto! begone! 'tis here again.

Swift.

2. (Mus.) Quickly; rapidly; -- a direction for a quick, lively movement or performance; quicker than allegro, or any rate of time except prestissimo.

Pre*stric"tion (?), n. [L. praestrictio a binding fast, fr. praestringere. See Pre-, and Stringent.] Obstruction, dimness, or defect of sight. [Obs.] Milton.

Pre*sul"tor (?), n. [L. praesultor; prae before + salire to dance.] A leader in the dance. [R.]

Pre*sum"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈsumable.] Such as may be presumed or supposed to be true; that seems entitled to belief without direct evidence.

Pre*sum"a*bly, adv. In a presumable manner; by, or according to, presumption.

Pre*sume" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presumed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Presuming.] [F. prÈsumer, L. praesumere, praesumptum; prae before + sumere to take. See Assume, Redeem.] 1. To assume or take beforehand; esp., to do or undertake without leave or authority previously obtained.

Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner?

Shak.

Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve.

Milton.

2. To take or suppose to be true, or entitled to belief, without examination or proof, or on the strength of probability; to take for granted; to infer; to suppose.

Every man is to be presumed innocent till he is proved to be guilty.

Blackstone.

What rests but that the mortal sentence pass, . . . Which he presumes already vain and void, Because not yet inflicted?

Milton.

Pre*sume", v. i. 1. To suppose or assume something to be, or to be true, on grounds deemed valid, though not amounting to proof; to believe by anticipation; to infer; as, we may presume too far.

2. To venture, go, or act, by an assumption of leave or authority not granted; to go beyond what is warranted by the circumstances of the case; to venture beyond license; to take liberties; -- often with on or upon before the ground of confidence.

Do not presume too much upon my love.

Shak.

This man presumes upon his parts.

Locke.

Pre*sum"ed*ly, adv. By presumption.

Pre*sum"er (?), n. One who presumes; also, an arrogant person. Sir H. Wotton.

Pre*sum"ing*ly, adv. Confidently; arrogantly.

Pre*sump"tion (?; 215), n. [L. praesumptio: cf. F. prÈsomption, OF. also presumpcion. See Presume.] 1. The act of presuming, or believing upon probable evidence; the act of assuming or taking for granted; belief upon incomplete proof.

2. Ground for presuming; evidence probable, but not conclusive; strong probability; reasonable supposition; as, the presumption is that an event has taken place.

3. That which is presumed or assumed; that which is supposed or believed to be real or true, on evidence that is probable but not conclusive. "In contradiction to these very plausible presumptions." De Quincey.

4. The act of venturing beyond due beyond due bounds; an overstepping of the bounds of reverence, respect, or courtesy; forward, overconfident, or arrogant opinion or conduct; presumptuousness; arrogance; effrontery.

Thy son I killed for his presumption.

Shak.

I had the presumption to dedicate to you a very unfinished piece.

Dryden.

Conclusive presumption. See under Conclusive. -- Presumption of fact (Law), an argument of a fact from a fact; an inference as to the existence of one fact not certainly known, from the existence of some other fact known or proved, founded on a previous experience of their connection; supposition of the truth or real existence of something, without direct or positive proof of the fact, but grounded on circumstantial or probable evidence which entitles it to belief. Burrill. Best. Wharton. -- Presumption of law (Law), a postulate applied in advance to all cases of a particular class; e. g., the presumption of innocence and of regularity of records. Such a presumption is rebuttable or irrebuttable.

Pre*sump"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈsomptif.] 1. Based on presumption or probability; grounded on probable evidence; probable; as, presumptive proof.

2. Presumptuous; arrogant. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Presumptive evidence (Law), that which is derived from circumstances which necessarily or usually attend a fact, as distinct from direct evidence or positive proof; indirect or circumstantial evidence. "Presumptive evidence of felony should be cautiously admitted." Blackstone. The distinction, however, between direct and presumptive (or circumstantial) evidence is now generally abandoned; all evidence being now more or less direct and more or less presumptive. -- Presumptive heir. See Heir presumptive, under Heir.

Pre*sump"tive*ly, adv. By presumption, or supposition grounded or probability; presumably.

Pre*sump"tu*ous (?; 135), a. [L. praesumptuosus: cf. F. prÈsomptueux, OF. also presumptuous. See Presumption.] 1. Full of presumption; presuming; overconfident or venturesome; audacious; rash; taking liberties unduly; arrogant; insolent; as, a presumptuous commander; presumptuous conduct.

A class of presumptuous men, whom age has not made cautious, nor adversity wise.

Buckminster.

2. Founded on presumption; as, a presumptuous idea. "False, presumptuous hope." Milton.

3. Done with hold design, rash confidence, or in violation of known duty; willful. "Keep back the servant also from presumptuous sins." Ps. xix. 13.

Syn. -- Overconfident; foolhardy; rash; presuming; forward; arrogant; insolent.

Pre*sump"tu*ous*ly, adv. In a presumptuous manner; arrogantly.

Pre*sump"tu*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being presumptuous.

Pre`sup*pos"al (?), n. Presupposition. [R.] "Presupposal of knowledge." Hooker.

Pre`sup*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presupposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Presupposing.] [Pref. pre- + suppose: cf. F. prÈsupposer.] To suppose beforehand; to imply as antecedent; to take for granted; to assume; as, creation presupposes a creator.

Each [kind of knowledge] presupposes many necessary things learned in other sciences, and known beforehand.

Hooker.

Pre*sup`po*si"tion (?), n. [Pref. pre- + supposition: cf. F. prÈsupposition.] 1. The act of presupposing; an antecedent implication; presumption.

2. That which is presupposed; a previous supposition or surmise.

Pre`sur*mise" (?), n. A surmise previously formed. Shak.

Pre`sys*tol"ic (?), a. (Physiol.) Preceding the systole or contraction of the heart; as, the presystolic friction sound.

Pre*tem"po*ral (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the temporal bone.

Pre*tence" (?), n., Pre*tence"ful, a., Pre*tence"*less, a. See Pretense, Pretenseful, Pretenseless.

Pre*tend" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretended; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretending.] [OE. pretenden to lay claim to, F. prÈtendre, L. praetendere, praetentum, to stretch forward, pretend, simulate, assert; prae before + tendere to stretch. See Tend, v. t. ] 1. To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim.

Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they pretend.

Dryden.

2. To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden. [R.]

Lest that too heavenly form, pretended To hellish falsehood, snare them.

Milton.

3. To hold out, or represent, falsely; to put forward, or offer, as true or real (something untrue or unreal); to show hypocritically, or for the purpose of deceiving; to simulate; to feign; as, to pretend friendship.

This let him know, Lest, willfully transgressing, he pretend Surprisal.

Milton.

4. To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt. [Obs.]

Such as shall pretend Malicious practices against his state.

Shak.

5. To hold before one; to extend. [Obs.] "His target always over her pretended." Spenser.

Pre*tend", v. i. 1. To put in, or make, a claim, truly or falsely; to allege a title; to lay claim to, or strive after, something; -- usually with to. "Countries that pretend to freedom." Swift.

For to what fine he would anon pretend, That know I well.

Chaucer.

2. To hold out the appearance of being, possessing, or performing; to profess; to make believe; to feign; to sham; as, to pretend to be asleep. "[He] pretended to drink the waters." Macaulay.

Pre*tend"ant (?), n. A pretender; a claimant.

Pre*tend"ed, a. Making a false appearance; unreal; false; as, pretended friend. -- Pre*tend"ed*ly, adv.

Pre*tend"ence (?), n. The act of pretending; pretense. [Obs.] Daniel.

Pre*tend"er (?), n. 1. One who lays claim, or asserts a title (to something); a claimant. Specifically, The pretender (Eng. Hist.), the son or the grandson of James II., the heir of the royal family of Stuart, who laid claim to the throne of Great Britain, from which the house was excluded by law.

It is the shallow, unimproved intellects that are the confident pretenders to certainty.

Glanvill.

2. One who pretends, simulates, or feigns.

Pre*tend"er*ship, n. The character, right, or claim of a pretender. Swift.

Pre*tend"ing*ly, adv. As by right or title; arrogantly; presumptuously. Collier.

{ Pre*tense", Pre*tence } (?), n. [LL. praetensus, for L. praetentus, p. p. of praetendere. See Pretend, and cf. Tension.] 1. The act of laying claim; the claim laid; assumption; pretension. Spenser.

Primogeniture can not have any pretense to a right of solely inheriting property or power.

Locke.

I went to Lambeth with Sir R. Brown's pretense to the wardenship of Merton College, Oxford.

Evelyn.

2. The act of holding out, or offering, to others something false or feigned; presentation of what is deceptive or hypocritical; deception by showing what is unreal and concealing what is real; false show; simulation; as, pretense of illness; under pretense of patriotism; on pretense of revenging CÊsar's death.

3. That which is pretended; false, deceptive, or hypocritical show, argument, or reason; pretext; feint.

Let not the Trojans, with a feigned pretense Of proffered peace, delude the Latian prince.

Dryden.

4. Intention; design. [Obs.]

A very pretense and purpose of unkindness.

Shak.

See the Note under Offense.

Syn. -- Mask; appearance; color; show; pretext; excuse. -- Pretense, Pretext. A pretense is something held out as real when it is not so, thus falsifying the truth. A pretext is something woven up in order to cover or conceal one's true motives, feelings, or reasons. Pretext is often, but not always, used in a bad sense.

Pre*tensed" (?), a. Pretended; feigned. [Obs.] -- Pre*tens"ed*ly (#), adv. [Obs.]

Pre*tense"ful (?), a. Abounding in pretenses.

Pre*tense"less, a. Not having or making pretenses.

Pre*ten"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈtention. See Pretend, Tension.] 1. The act of pretending, or laying claim; the act of asserting right or title.

The arrogant pretensions of Glengarry contributed to protract the discussion.

Macaulay.

2. A claim made, whether true or false; a right alleged or assumed; a holding out the appearance of possessing a certain character; as, pretensions to scholarship.

This was but an invention and pretension given out by the Spaniards.

Bacon.

Men indulge those opinions and practices that favor their pretensions.

L'Estrange.

Pre*ten"ta*tive (?), a. [Pref. pre- + tentative: cf. L. praetentare to try beforehand.] Fitted for trial beforehand; experimental. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.

Pre*ten"tious (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈtentieux. See Pretend.] Full of pretension; disposed to lay claim to more than is one's; presuming; assuming. -- Pre*ten"tious*ly, adv. - - Pre*ten"tious*ness, n.

Pre"ter- (?). [L. praeter past, beyond, originally a compar. of prae before. See For, prep.] A prefix signifying past, by, beyond, more than; as, preter- mission, a permitting to go by; preternatural, beyond or more than is natural. [Written also prÊter.]

Pre`ter*hu"man (?), a. [Pref. preter- + human.] More than human.