PRE-EXISTENCE — PREMISES NWAD PRE-EXISTENCE.1

PRE-EXISTENCE, n. Existence previous to something else. NWAD PRE-EXISTENCE.1

Wisdom declares her antiquity and pre-existence to all the works of this earth. NWAD PRE-EXISTENCE.2

1. Existence of the soul before its union with the body, or before the body is formed; a tenet of eastern sages. NWAD PRE-EXISTENCE.3

PRE-EXISTENT, a. Existing beforehand; preceding in existence. NWAD PRE-EXISTENT.1

What mortal knows his pre-existent state? NWAD PRE-EXISTENT.2

PRE-EXISTIMATION, n. Previous esteem. [Not in use.] NWAD PRE-EXISTIMATION.1

PRE-EXISTING, ppr. Previously existing. NWAD PRE-EXISTING.1

PRE-EXPECTATION, n. Previous expectation. NWAD PRE-EXPECTATION.1

PREFACE, n. [L. proefatio; proe, before, and for, fari, fatus, to speak.] Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay, intended to inform the hearer or reader of the main design, or in general, of whatever is necessary to the understanding of the discourse, book or essay; a poem; an introduction or series of preliminary remarks. NWAD PREFACE.1

PREFACE, v.t. To introduce by preliminary remarks; as, to preface a book or discourse. The advocate prefaced his argument with a history of the case. NWAD PREFACE.2

1. To face; to cover; a ludicrous sense. NWAD PREFACE.3

Not prefacing old rags with plush. NWAD PREFACE.4

PREFACE, v.i. To say something introductory. NWAD PREFACE.5

PREFACED, pp. Introduced with preliminary observations. NWAD PREFACED.1

PREFACER, n. The writer of a preface. NWAD PREFACER.1

PREFACING, ppr. Introducing with preliminary remarks. NWAD PREFACING.1

PREFATORY, a. Pertaining to a preface; introductory to a book, essay or discourse. NWAD PREFATORY.1

PREFECT, n. [L. proefectus; proe, before, and factus, made; but directly from proeficior, proefectus.] NWAD PREFECT.1

1. In ancient Rome, a chief magistrate who governed a city or province in the absence of the king, consuls or emperor. NWAD PREFECT.2

2. A governor, commander, chief magistrate or superintendent. NWAD PREFECT.3

PREFECTSHIP, PREFECTURE, n. The office of a chief magistrate, commander or viceroy. NWAD PREFECTSHIP.1

1. Jurisdiction of a perfect. NWAD PREFECTSHIP.2

PREFER, v.t. [L. proefero; proe, before, and fero, to bear or carry.] NWAD PREFER.1

1. Literally, to bear or carry in advance, in the mind, affections or choice; hence, to regard more than another; to honor or esteem above another. NWAD PREFER.2

It is sometimes followed by above, before, or to. NWAD PREFER.3

If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Psalm 137:6. NWAD PREFER.4

He that cometh after me, is preferred before me. John 1:15. NWAD PREFER.5

2. To advance, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; as, to prefer one to a bishopric; to prefer an officer to the rank of general. NWAD PREFER.6

3. To offer; to present; to exhibit; usually with solemnity, or to a public body. It is our privilege to enjoy the right of preferring petitions to rulers for redress of wrongs. NWAD PREFER.7

My vows and prayers to thee preferred. NWAD PREFER.8

Prefer a bill against all kings and parliaments since the conquest. NWAD PREFER.9

4. To offer or present ceremoniously, or in ordinary familiar language. NWAD PREFER.10

He spake, and to her hand preferr’d the bowl. NWAD PREFER.11

[This is allowable, at least in poetry, though not usual.] NWAD PREFER.12

PREFERABLE, a. Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more eligible; more desirable. Virtue is far preferable to vice, even for its pleasures in this life. NWAD PREFERABLE.1

1. More excellent; of better quality; as, Madeira wine is preferable to claret. NWAD PREFERABLE.2

PREFERABLENESS, n. The quality or state of being preferable. NWAD PREFERABLENESS.1

PREFERABLY, adv. In preference; in such a manner as to prefer one thing to another. NWAD PREFERABLY.1

How comes he to choose Plautus preferably to Terance? NWAD PREFERABLY.2

PREFERENCE, n. The act of preferring one thing before another; estimation of one thing above another; choice of one thing rather than another. NWAD PREFERENCE.1

Leave the critics on either side to contend about the preference due to this or that sort of poetry. NWAD PREFERENCE.2

It has to, above, before, or over, before the thing postponed. All men give the preference to Homer as an epic poet. The human body has the preference above or before those of brutes. NWAD PREFERENCE.3

The knowledge of things alone gives a value to our reasonings, and preference of one man’s knowledge over another’s. NWAD PREFERENCE.4

PREFERMENT, n. Advancement to a higher office, dignity or station. Change of manners and even of character often follows preferment. A profligate life should be considered a disqualification for preferment, no less than want of ability. NWAD PREFERMENT.1

1. Superior place or office. All preferments should be given to competent men. NWAD PREFERMENT.2

2. Preference. [Not used.] NWAD PREFERMENT.3

PREFERRED, pp. Regarded above others; elevated in station. NWAD PREFERRED.1

PREFERRER, n. One who prefers. NWAD PREFERRER.1

PREFERRING, ppr. Regarding above others; advancing to a higher station; offering; presenting. NWAD PREFERRING.1

PREFIGURATE, v.t. [See Prefigure.] To show by antecedent representation. [Little used.] NWAD PREFIGURATE.1

PREFIGURATION, n. Antecedent representation by similitude. NWAD PREFIGURATION.1

A variety of prophecies and prefigurations had their punctual accomplishment in the author of this institution. NWAD PREFIGURATION.2

PREFIGURATIVE, a. Showing by previous figures, types of similitude. The sacrifice of the paschal lamb was prefigurative of the death of Christ. NWAD PREFIGURATIVE.1

PREFIGURE, v.t. [L. proe, before, and figuro, to fashion.] NWAD PREFIGURE.1

To exhibit by antecedent representation, or by types and similitude. NWAD PREFIGURE.2

In the Old Testament, things are prefigured, which are performed in the New. NWAD PREFIGURE.3

PREFIGURED, pp. Exhibited by antecedent signs, types or similitude. NWAD PREFIGURED.1

PREFIGURING, ppr. Showing antecedently by similitude. NWAD PREFIGURING.1

PREFINE, v.t. [L. proefinio; proe, before, and finio, to limit; finis, limit.] To limit beforehand. [Little used.] NWAD PREFINE.1

PREFINITION, n. Previous limitation. [Little used.] NWAD PREFINITION.1

PREFIX, v.t. [L. proefigo; proe, before, and figo, to fix.] NWAD PREFIX.1

1. To put or fix before, or at the beginning of another thing; as, to prefix a syllable to a word; to prefix an advertisement to a book. NWAD PREFIX.2

2. To set or appoint beforehand; as, to prefix the hour of meeting. NWAD PREFIX.3

A time prefix, and think of me at last. NWAD PREFIX.4

3. To settle; to establish. NWAD PREFIX.5

I would prefix some certain boundary between the old statutes and the new. NWAD PREFIX.6

PREFIX, n. A letter, syllable or word put to the beginning of a word, usually to vary its signification. A prefix is united with the word, forming a part of it; hence it is distinguished from a preposition; as pre, in prefix; con, in coniure; with, in withstand. Prefixes are sometimes called particles, or inseparable prepositions. NWAD PREFIX.7

PREFIXED, pp. Set before; appointed beforehand; settled. NWAD PREFIXED.1

PREFIXING, ppr. Putting before; previously appointing; establishing. NWAD PREFIXING.1

PREFIXION, n. The act of prefixing. NWAD PREFIXION.1

PREFORM, v.t. [pre and form.] To form beforehand. NWAD PREFORM.1

PREFORMATIVE, n. [L. proe, before, and formative.] NWAD PREFORMATIVE.1

A formative letter at the beginning of a word. NWAD PREFORMATIVE.2

PREFULGENCY, n. [L. proefulgens; proe, before, and fulgeo, to shine.] Superior brightness or effulgency. NWAD PREFULGENCY.1

PREGNABLE, a. That may be taken or won by force; expugnable. [Little used.] NWAD PREGNABLE.1

PREGNANCY, n. [See Pregnant.] The state of a female who has conceived, or is with child. NWAD PREGNANCY.1

1. Fertility; fruitfulness; inventive power; as the pregnancy of wit or invention. NWAD PREGNANCY.2

Pregnance, in a like sense, is not used. NWAD PREGNANCY.3

PREGNANT, a. [L. proegnans; supposed to be compounded of proe, before, and geno; Gr. to beget.] NWAD PREGNANT.1

1. Being with young, as a female; breeding; teeming. NWAD PREGNANT.2

2. Fruitful; fertile; impregnating; as pregnant streams. NWAD PREGNANT.3

3. Full of consequence; as a pregnant instance of infatuation. NWAD PREGNANT.4

An egregious and pregnant instance how far virtue surpasses ingenuity. NWAD PREGNANT.5

4. East to admit or receive. NWAD PREGNANT.6

5. Free; kind; ready; witty; apt. [Not proper.] NWAD PREGNANT.7

6. Plain; clear; evident; full. [Not in use.] NWAD PREGNANT.8

PREGNANTLY, adv. Fruitfully. NWAD PREGNANTLY.1

1. Fully; plainly; clearly. [Not used.] NWAD PREGNANTLY.2

PREGRAVATE, v.t. [L. proegravo.] NWAD PREGRAVATE.1

To bear down; to depress. [Not in use.] NWAD PREGRAVATE.2

PREGRAVITATE, v.i. To descend by gravity. NWAD PREGRAVITATE.1

PREGUSTATION, n. [L. proe and gusto, to taste.] NWAD PREGUSTATION.1

The act of tasting before another. NWAD PREGUSTATION.2

PREHENSILE, a. [L. prehendo, to take or seize; prehensus.] NWAD PREHENSILE.1

Seizing; grasping; adapted to seize or grasp. The tails of some monkeys are prehensile. NWAD PREHENSILE.2

PREHENSION, n. A taking hold; a seizing; as with the hand or other limb. NWAD PREHENSION.1

PREHNITE, n. A mineral of the silicious kind, of an apple green or greenish gray color. It has been called shorl, emerald, chrysoprase, felspath, chrysolite, and zeolite. It has some resemblance to zeolite, but differs from it in several particulars, and is therefore considered to be a particular species. NWAD PREHNITE.1

Prehnite is near to stilbite, and is classed by the French with the family of zeolites. NWAD PREHNITE.2

It is massive or crystallized, but the form of its crystals cannot be determined in consequence of their aggregation. NWAD PREHNITE.3

PREINSTRUCT, v.t. [pre and instruct.] To instruct previously. NWAD PREINSTRUCT.1

PREINSTRUCTED, pp. Previously instructed or directed. NWAD PREINSTRUCTED.1

PREINSTRUCTING, ppr. Previously instructing. NWAD PREINSTRUCTING.1

PREINTIMATION, n. [pre and intimation.] NWAD PREINTIMATION.1

Previous intimation; a suggestion beforehand. NWAD PREINTIMATION.2

PREJUDGE, v.t. prejudg’. [L. proe and judico, to judge.] NWAD PREJUDGE.1

1. To judge in a cause before it is heard, or before the arguments and facts in the case are fully known. NWAD PREJUDGE.2

The committee of council hath prejudged the whole case, by calling the united sense of both houses of parliament an universal clamor. NWAD PREJUDGE.3

2. To judge and determine before the cause is heard; hence sometimes, to condemn beforehand or unheard. NWAD PREJUDGE.4

PREJUDGED, pp. Judged beforehand; determined unheard. NWAD PREJUDGED.1

PREJUDGING, ppr. Judging or determining without a hearing or before the case is fully understood. NWAD PREJUDGING.1

PREJUDGMENT, n. Judgment in a case without a hearing or full examination. NWAD PREJUDGMENT.1

PREJUDICACY, n. Prejudice; prepossession. [Not used.] NWAD PREJUDICACY.1

PREJUDICATE, v.t. [L. proe, before, and judico, to judge.] NWAD PREJUDICATE.1

To prejudge; to determine beforehand to disadvantage. NWAD PREJUDICATE.2

Our dearest friend NWAD PREJUDICATE.3

Prejudicates the business. NWAD PREJUDICATE.4

PREJUDICATE, v.i. To form a judgment without due examination of the facts and arguments in this case. NWAD PREJUDICATE.5

PREJUDICATE, a. Formed before due examination. NWAD PREJUDICATE.6

1. Prejudiced; biased by opinions formed prematurely; as a prejudicate reader. [Little used.] NWAD PREJUDICATE.7

PREJUDICATED, pp. Prejudged. NWAD PREJUDICATED.1

PREJUDICATING, ppr. Prejudging. NWAD PREJUDICATING.1

PREJUDICATION, n. The act of judging without due examination of facts and evidence. NWAD PREJUDICATION.1

1. In Roman oratory, prejudications were of three kinds; first, precedents or adjudged cases, involving the same points of law; second, previous decisions on the same question between other parties; third, decisions of the same cause and between the same parties, before tribunals of inferior jurisdiction. NWAD PREJUDICATION.2

PREJUDICATIVE, a. Forming an opinion or judgment without examination. NWAD PREJUDICATIVE.1

PREJUDICE, n. [L. prejudicium; proe and judico.] NWAD PREJUDICE.1

1. Prejudgment; an opinion or decision of mind, formed without due examination of the facts or arguments which are necessary to a just and impartial determination. It is used in a good or bad sense. Innumerable are the prejudices of education; we are accustomed to believe what we are taught, and to receive opinions from others without examining the grounds by which they can be supported. A man has strong prejudices in favor of his country or his party, or the church in which he has been educated; and often our prejudices are unreasonable. A judge should disabuse himself of prejudice in favor of either party in a suit. NWAD PREJUDICE.2

My comfort is that their manifest prejudice to my cause will render their judgment of less authority. NWAD PREJUDICE.3

2. A previous bent or bias of mind for or against any person or thing; prepossession. NWAD PREJUDICE.4

There is an unaccountable prejudice to projectors of all kinds. NWAD PREJUDICE.5

3. Mischief; hurt; damage; injury. Violent factions are a prejudice to the authority of the sovereign. NWAD PREJUDICE.6

How plain this abuse is, and what prejudice it does to the understanding of the sacred Scriptures. NWAD PREJUDICE.7

[This is a sense of the word too well established to be condemned.] NWAD PREJUDICE.8

PREJUDICE, v.t. To prepossess with unexamined opinions, or opinions formed without due knowledge of the facts and circumstances attending the question; to bias the mind by hasty and incorrect notions, and give it an unreasonable bent to one side or other of a cause. NWAD PREJUDICE.9

Suffer not any beloved study to prejudice your mind so far as to despise all other learning. NWAD PREJUDICE.10

1. To obstruct or injure by prejudices, or an undue previous bias of the mind; or to hurt; to damage; to diminish; to impair; in a very general sense. The advocate who attempts to prove too much, may prejudice his cause. NWAD PREJUDICE.11

I am not to prejudice the cause of my fellow poets, though I abandon my own defense. NWAD PREJUDICE.12

PREJUDICED, pp. or a. Prepossessed by unexamined opinions; biased. NWAD PREJUDICED.1

PREJUDICIAL, a. Biased or blinded by prejudices; as a prejudicial eye. [Not in use.] NWAD PREJUDICIAL.1

1. Hurtful; mischievous; injurious; disadvantageous; detrimental; tending to obstruct or impair. A high rate of interest is prejudicial to trade and manufactures. Intemperance is prejudicial to health. NWAD PREJUDICIAL.2

His going away the next morning with all his troops, was most prejudicial to the king’s affairs. NWAD PREJUDICIAL.3

One of the young ladies reads while the others are at work; so that the learning of the family is not at all prejudicial to its manufactures. NWAD PREJUDICIAL.4

PREJUDICIALNESS, n. The state of being prejudicial; injuriousness. NWAD PREJUDICIALNESS.1

PRELACY, n. [from prelate.] The office or dignity of a prelate. NWAD PRELACY.1

Prelacies may be termed the greater benefices. NWAD PRELACY.2

1. Episcopacy; the order of bishops. NWAD PRELACY.3

How many are there that call themselves protestants, who put prelacy and popery together as terms convertible? NWAD PRELACY.4

2. Bishops, collectively. NWAD PRELACY.5

Divers of the reverend prelacy. NWAD PRELACY.6

PRELATE, n. [L. proelatus, proefero.] An ecclesiastic of the higher order, as an archbishop, bishop or patriarch; a dignitary of the church. NWAD PRELATE.1

PRELATESHIP, n. The office of a prelate. NWAD PRELATESHIP.1

PRELATIC, PRELATICAL, a. Pertaining to prelates or prelacy; as prelatical authority. NWAD PRELATIC.1

PRELATICALLY, adv. With reference to prelates. NWAD PRELATICALLY.1

PRELATION, n. [L. proelatio, proefero.] Preference; the setting of one above another. [Little used.] NWAD PRELATION.1

PRELATISM, n. Prelacy; episcopacy. NWAD PRELATISM.1

PRELATIST, n. [form prelate.] An advocate for prelacy or the government of the church by bishops; a high churchman. NWAD PRELATIST.1

I am an episcopalian, but not a prelatist. NWAD PRELATIST.2

PRELATURE, PRELATURESHIP, n. The state or dignity of a prelate. NWAD PRELATURE.1

PRELATY, n. Episcopacy; prelacy. [Not in use.] NWAD PRELATY.1

PRELECT, v.t. [L. proelectus, proelego; proe, before, and lego, to read.] To read a lecture or public discourse. NWAD PRELECT.1

PRELECTION, n. [L. proelectio.] A lecture or discourse read in public or to a select company. NWAD PRELECTION.1

PRELECTOR, n. A reader of discourses; a lecturer. NWAD PRELECTOR.1

PRELIBATION, n. [from L. proelibo; proe, before, and libo, to taste.] NWAD PRELIBATION.1

1. Foretaste; a tasting beforehand or by anticipation. NWAD PRELIBATION.2

The joy that proceeds from a belief of pardon is a prelibation of heavenly bliss. NWAD PRELIBATION.3

2. An effusion previous to tasting. NWAD PRELIBATION.4

PRELIMINARY, a. [L. proe, before, and limen, threshhold or limit.] NWAD PRELIMINARY.1

Introductory; previous; proemial; that precedes the main discourse or business; as preliminary observations to a discourse or book; preliminary articles to a treaty; preliminary measures. NWAD PRELIMINARY.2

PRELIMINARY, n. That which precedes the main discourse, work, design or business; something previous or preparatory; as the preliminaries to a negotiation or treaty; the preliminaries to a combat. The parties met to settle the preliminaries. NWAD PRELIMINARY.3

PRELUDE, n. [Low L. proeludium, from proeludo; proe, before, and ludo, to play.] NWAD PRELUDE.1

1. A short flight of music, or irregular air played by a musician before he begins the piece to be played, or before a full concert. NWAD PRELUDE.2

2. Something introductory or that shows what is to follow; something preceding which bears some relation or resemblance to that which is to follow. NWAD PRELUDE.3

The last Georgic was a good prelude to the Aeneis. NWAD PRELUDE.4

3. A forerunner; something which indicates a future event. NWAD PRELUDE.5

PRELUDE, v.t. To introduce with a previous performance; to play before; as, to prelude a concert with a lively air. NWAD PRELUDE.6

1. To precede, as an introductory piece; as, a lively air preludes the concert. NWAD PRELUDE.7

PRELUDE, v.i. To serve as an introduction to. NWAD PRELUDE.8

PRELUDED, pp. Preceded by an introductory performance; preceded. NWAD PRELUDED.1

PRELUDER, n. One that plays a prelude, or introduces by a previous irregular piece of music. NWAD PRELUDER.1

PRELUDING, ppr. Playing an introductory air; preceding. NWAD PRELUDING.1

PRELUDIOUS, a. Previous; introductory. NWAD PRELUDIOUS.1

PRELUDIUM, n. [Low L.] A prelude. NWAD PRELUDIUM.1

PRELUSIVE, a. Previous; introductory; indicating that something of a like kind is to follow; as prelusive drops. NWAD PRELUSIVE.1

PRELUSORY, a. Previous; introductory; prelusive. NWAD PRELUSORY.1

PREMATURE, a. [L. proematurus; proe, before, and maturus, ripe.] NWAD PREMATURE.1

1. Ripe before the natural or proper time; as the premature fruits of a hot bed. NWAD PREMATURE.2

2. Happening, arriving, performed or adopted before the proper time; as a premature fall of snow in autumn; a premature birth; a premature opinion; a premature measure. NWAD PREMATURE.3

3. Arriving or received without due authentication or evidence; as premature report, news or intelligence. NWAD PREMATURE.4

PREMATURELY, adv. Too soon; too early; before the proper time; as fruits prematurely ripened; opinions prematurely formed; measures prematurely taken. NWAD PREMATURELY.1

1. Without due evidence or authentication; as intelligence prematurely received. NWAD PREMATURELY.2

PREMATURENESS, PREMATURITY, n. Ripeness before the natural or proper time. NWAD PREMATURENESS.1

1. Too great haste; unseasonable earliness. NWAD PREMATURENESS.2

PREMEDITATE, v.t. [L. proemeditor; proe, before, and meditor, to mediate.] To think on and revolve in the mind beforehand; to contrive and design previously; as, to premeditate theft or robbery. NWAD PREMEDITATE.1

With words premeditated thus he said. NWAD PREMEDITATE.2

PREMEDITATE, v.i. To think, consider or revolve in the mind beforehand; to deliberate; to have formed in the mind by previous thought or meditation. NWAD PREMEDITATE.3

PREMEDITATE, a. Contrived by previous meditation. NWAD PREMEDITATE.4

PREMEDITATED, pp. Previously considered or meditated. NWAD PREMEDITATED.1

1. Previously contrived, designed or intended; deliberate; willful; as premeditated murder. NWAD PREMEDITATED.2

PREMEDITATELY, adv. With previous meditation. NWAD PREMEDITATELY.1

PREMEDITATING, ppr. Previously meditating; contriving or intending beforehand. NWAD PREMEDITATING.1

PREMEDITATION, n. [L. proemeditatio.] NWAD PREMEDITATION.1

1. The act of meditating beforehand; previous deliberation. NWAD PREMEDITATION.2

A sudden thought may be higher than nature can raise without premeditation. NWAD PREMEDITATION.3

2. Previous contrivance or design formed; as the premeditation of a crime. NWAD PREMEDITATION.4

PREMERIT, v.t. [pre and merit.] NWAD PREMERIT.1

To merit or deserve beforehand. [Little used.] NWAD PREMERIT.2

PREMICES, n. [L. primitioe, primus.] First fruits. [Not used.] NWAD PREMICES.1

PREMIER, a. [L. primus, first.] First; chief; principal; as the premier place; premier minister. NWAD PREMIER.1

PREMIER, n. The first minister of state; the prime minister. NWAD PREMIER.2

PREMIERSHIP, n. The office or dignity of the first minister of state. NWAD PREMIERSHIP.1

PREMISE, v.t. s as z. [L. proemissus, proemitto, to send before.] NWAD PREMISE.1

1. To speak or write before, or as introductory to the main subject; to offer previously, as something to explain or aid in understanding what follows. NWAD PREMISE.2

I premise these particulars that the reader may know that I enter upon it as a very ungrateful task. NWAD PREMISE.3

2. To send before the time. [Not in use.] NWAD PREMISE.4

3. To lay down premises or first propositions, on which rest the subsequent reasonings. NWAD PREMISE.5

4. To use or apply previously. NWAD PREMISE.6

If venesection and a cathartic be premised. NWAD PREMISE.7

PREMISE, v.i. To state antecedent propositions. NWAD PREMISE.8

PREMISE, n. prem’is. A first or antecedent proposition. Hence, NWAD PREMISE.9

PREMISES, n. [L. proemissa.] NWAD PREMISES.1

1. In logic, the two first propositions of a syllogism, from which the inference or conclusion is drawn; as, NWAD PREMISES.2

All sinners deserve punishment; NWAD PREMISES.3

A B is a sinner. NWAD PREMISES.4

These propositions, which are the premises, being true or admitted, the conclusion follows, that A B deserves punishment. NWAD PREMISES.5

2. Propositions antecedently supposed or proved. NWAD PREMISES.6

While the premises stand firm, it is impossible to shake the conclusion. NWAD PREMISES.7

3. In law, land or other things mentioned in the preceding part of a deed. NWAD PREMISES.8