Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter P - Page 110
Preedy (adv.) With ease. [Prov. Eng.]
Preef (n.) Proof. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Preelect (v. t.) To elect beforehand.
Preelection (n.) Election beforehand.
Preeminence (n.) 卓越，傑出 [U] The quality or state of being preeminent; superiority in prominence or in excellence; distinction above others in quality, rank, etc.; rarely, in a bad sense, superiority or notoriety in evil; as, preeminence in honor.
The pre["e]minence of Christianity to any other religious scheme. -- Addison.
Painful pre["e]minence! yourself to view Above life's weakness, and its comforts too. -- Pope.
Beneath the forehead's walled pre["e]minence. -- Lowell.
Preeminence (n.) High status importance owing to marked superiority; "a scholar of great eminence" [syn: eminence, distinction, preeminence, note].
Preeminent (a.) 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, preeminent in guilt.
In goodness and in power pre["e]minent. -- Milton.
Preeminent (a.) Greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement; "our greatest statesmen"; "the country's leading poet"; "a preeminent archeologist" [syn: leading(a), preeminent].
Preeminently (adv.) In a preeminent degree.
Preeminently (adv.) To a preeminent degree; with superiority or distinction above others; in a preeminent manner; "a wide variety of pre-eminently contemporary scenes" [syn: pre-eminently, preeminently].
Preemploy (v. t.) To employ beforehand. "Pre["e]mployed by him." -- Shak.
Preempted (imp. & p. p.) of Preempt.
Preempting (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Preempt.
Preempt (v. t. & i.) 以先買權獲得；先佔；先取；先發制人 To settle upon (public land) with a right of preemption, as under the laws of the United States; to take by preemption. [Also spelled pre-empt.]
Preempt (n.) A high bid that is intended to prevent the opposing players from bidding [syn: {preemptive bid}, {pre-empt}, {preempt}].
Preempt (v.) Acquire for oneself before others can do so.
Preempt (v.) Take the place of or have precedence over; "live broadcast of the presidential debate preempts the regular news hour"; "discussion of the emergency situation will preempt the lecture by the professor" [syn: {preempt}, {displace}].
Preempt (v.) Gain possession of by prior right or opportunity, especially so as to obtain the right to buy (land).
Preempt (v.) Make a preemptive bid in the game of bridge.
Preemption (n.) 先買權；先佔；先發制人 The act or right of purchasing before others.
Preemption (n.) The privilege or prerogative formerly enjoyed by the king of buying provisions for his household in preference to others.
Preemption (n.) 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.
Preemption (n.) The judicial principle asserting the supremacy of federal over state legislation on the same subject [syn: {preemption}, {pre-emption}].
Preemption (n.) The right of a government to seize or appropriate something (as property) [syn: {preemption}, {pre-emption}].
Preemption (n.) The right to purchase something in advance of others [syn: {preemption}, {pre-emption}].
Preemption (n.) A prior appropriation of something; "the preemption of bandwidth by commercial interests" [syn: preemption, pre-emption].
Pre-emption, () intern. law. The right of preemption is the right of a nation to detain the merchandise of strangers passing through her territories or seas, in order to afford to her subjects the preference of purchase. 1 Chit. Com. Law, 103; 1 Bl. Com. 287.
Pre-emption, () This right is sometimes regulated by treaty. In that which was made between the United States and Great Britain, bearing date the 10th day of November, 1794, ratified in 1795, it was agreed, art. 18, after mentioning that the usual munitions of war, and also naval materials should be confiscated as contraband, that "whereas the difficulty of agreeing on precise cases in which alone provisions and other articles not generally contraband may be regarded as such, renders it expedient to provide against the inconveniences and misunderstandings which might thence arise. It is further agreed that whenever any such articles so being contraband according to the existing laws of nations, shall for that reason be seized, the same shall not be confiscated, but the owners thereof shall be speedily and completely indemnified; and the captors, or in their default, the government under whose authority they act, shall pay to the masters or owners of such vessel the full value of all articles, with a reasonable mercantile profit thereon, together with the freight, and also the damages incident to such detention." See Mann. Com. B. 3, c. 8.
Pre-emption, () By the laws of the United States the right given to settlers of public lands, to purchase them in preference to others, is called the preemption right. See act of L. April 29, 1830, 4 Sharsw. Cont. of Story, U. S. 2212.
Preemptioner (n.) 獲優先購買權者；先發制人者 One who holds a prior right to purchase certain public land. -- Abbott.
Preemptioner (n.) The holder of a preemption right; also : preemptor.
Preemptive (a.) 先買的；有先買權的；先發制人的 Of or pertaining to preemption; having power to preempt; preempting.
Preemptive (a.) Designed or having the power to deter or prevent an anticipated situation or occurrence; "a preemptive business offer" [syn: {preemptive}, {pre-emptive}].
Preemptively (adv.) 先發制人地 In a preemptive manner.
Preemptor (n.) 獲優先購買權者；先發制人者 One who preempts; esp., one who preempts public land.
Preemptor (n.) Someone who acquires land by preemption [syn: {preemptor}, {pre-emptor}].
Preemptor (n.) A bidder in bridge who makes a preemptive bid [syn: {preemptor}, {pre-emptor}].
Preemptory (a.) Pertaining to preemption.
Preen (n.) A forked tool used by clothiers in dressing cloth.
Preened (imp. & p. p.) of Preen.
Preening (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Preen.
Preen (v. t.) To dress with, or as with, a preen; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers; -- said of birds. -- Derham.
Preen (v. t.) To trim up, as trees. [Prov. Eng.] -- Halliwell.
Preen (v. t.) Hence: To dress (oneself) carefully or stylishly; to primp.
Preen (v. t.) To pride (oneself) on one's accomplishments; to congratulate (oneself).
Preen (v. i.) To dress up neatly and smartly; to make oneself well-groomed and well-dressed.
Preen (v. i.) To feel proud of one's achievement; to swell or gloat.
Preen (v.) Clean with one's bill; "The birds preened" [syn: preen, plume].
Preen (v.) Pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement [syn: preen, congratulate].
Preen (v.) Dress or groom with elaborate care; "She likes to dress when going to the opera" [syn: preen, primp, plume, dress].
Preengaged (imp. & p. p.) of Preengage.
Preengaging (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Preengage.
Preengage (v. t.) To engage by previous contract; to bind or attach previously; to preoccupy.
But he was pre["e]ngaged by former ties. -- Dryden.
Preengagement (n.) Prior engagement, obligation, or attachment, as by contract, promise, or affection.
My pre["e]ngagements to other themes were not unknown to those for whom I was to write. -- Boyle.
Preerect (v. t.) To erect beforehand.
Prees (n.) Press; throng. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Preestablish (v. t.) To establish beforehand.
Preestablishment (n.) Settlement beforehand.
Preeternity (n.) Infinite previous duration. [R.] "The world's pre["e]ternity." -- Cudworth.
Preexamination (n.) Previous examination.
Preexamined (imp. & p. p.) of Preexamine.
Preexamining (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Preexamine.
Preexamine (v. t.) To examine beforehand.
Preexisted (imp. & p. p.) of Preexist.
Preexisting (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Preexist.
Preexist (v. i.) To exist previously; to exist before something else ; to exist before the current activity commenced; as, preexisting illnesses are not covered by this insurance policy. [Also spelled pre-exist.]
Preexist (v.) Exist beforehand or prior to a certain point in time; "Did this condition pre-exist?"
Preexistence (n.) 先在，前世，靈魂先在 Existence in a former state, or previous to something else.
Wisdom declares her antiquity and pre["e]xistence to all the works of this earth. -- T. Burnet.
Preexistence (n.) Existence of the soul before its union with the body; -- a doctrine held by certain philosophers. -- Addison.
Preexistence (n.) Existing in a former state or previous to something else.
Pre-existence, (n.) An unnoted factor in creation.
Preexistency (n.) Preexistence. [Obs.]
Preexistent (a.) Existing previously; preceding existence; as, a preexistent state. -- Pope.
Preexistent (a.) Existing previously or before something; "variations on pre-existent musical themes" [syn: preexistent, pre-existent, preexisting, pre-existing].
Preexistentism (n.) (Philos.) The theory of a preexistence of souls before their association with human bodies. -- Emerson.
Pre-existing condition (n.) 投保前已存在的健康狀態 In the context of healthcare in the United States, a pre-existing condition is a medical condition that started before a person's health benefits went into effect. Before 2014 some insurance policies would not cover expenses due to pre-existing conditions. These exclusions by the insurance industry were meant to cope with adverse selection by potential customers. Such exclusions are prohibited after January 1, 2014, by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Preexistimation (n.) Previous esteem or estimation.
Preexpectation (n.) Previous expectation.
Preface (n.) 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.
Preface
(n.) (R.
C. Ch.) The prelude or introduction to the canon of the
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.
Prefaced (imp. & p. p.) of Preface.
Prefacing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Preface.
Preface (v. t.) To introduce by a preface; to give a preface to; as, to preface a book discourse.
Preface (v. i.) To make a preface. -- Jer. Taylor.
Preface (n.) A short introductory essay preceding the text of a book [syn: foreword, preface, prolusion].
Preface (v.) Furnish with a preface or introduction; "She always precedes her lectures with a joke"; "He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution" [syn: precede, preface, premise, introduce].
Prefacer (n.) The writer of a preface.
Prefatorial (a.) Prefatory.
Prefatorial (a.) Serving as an introduction or preface [syn: introductory, prefatorial, prefatory].
Prefatorily (adv.) In a prefatory manner; by way of preface.
Prefatory (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.
Prefatory (a.) Serving as an introduction or preface [syn: introductory, prefatorial, prefatory].
Prefect (n.) 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.
Prefect (n.) A superintendent of a department who has control of its police establishment, together with extensive powers of municipal regulation. [France] -- Brande & C.
Prefect (n.) 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.
Prefect (n.) A chief officer or chief magistrate; "the prefect of Paris police".
Prefect, () French law. A chief officer invested with the superintendence of the administration of the laws in each department. Merl. Repert. h.t.
Prefectorial (a.) Of or pertaining to a prefect.
Prefectship (n.) The office or jurisdiction of a prefect.
Prefecture (n.) The office, position, or jurisdiction of a prefect; also, his official residence.
Prefecture (n.) The district administered by a prefect (as in France or Japan or the Roman Empire).
Prefecture (n.) The office of prefect.
Prefecundation (n.) (Physiol.) A term collectively applied to the changes or conditions preceding fecundation, especially to the changes which the ovum undergoes before fecundation.
Prefecundatory (a.) Of or pertaining to prefecundation.
Preferred (imp. & p. p.) of Prefer.
Preferring (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Prefer.
Prefer (v. t.) 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 C[ae]sar. -- Shak.
Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high. -- Byron.
Prefer (v. t.) To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass. [Obs.] "Though maidenhood prefer bigamy". -- Chaucer.
Prefer (v. t.) 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.
Prefer (v. t.) 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.
Prefer (v.) Like better; value more highly; "Some people prefer camping to staying in hotels"; "We prefer sleeping outside".
Prefer (v.) Select as an alternative over another; "I always choose the fish over the meat courses in this restaurant"; "She opted for the job on the East coast" [syn: choose, prefer, opt].
Prefer (v.) Promote over another; "he favors his second daughter" [syn: prefer, favor, favour].
Prefer (v.) Give preference to one creditor over another.
Preferability (n.) The quality or state of being preferable; preferableness. -- J. S. Mill.
Preferable (a.) Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more desirable; as, a preferable scheme. -- Addison.
Preferable (a.) More desirable than another; "coffee is preferable to tea"; "Danny's preferred name is `Dan'" [syn: preferable, preferred].
Preferableness (n.) The quality or state of being preferable.
Preferably (adv.) In preference; by choice.
To choose Plautus preferably to Terence. -- Dennis.
Preferably (adv.) More readily or willingly; "clean it well, preferably with warm water"; "I'd rather be in Philadelphia"; "I'd sooner die than give up" [syn: preferably, sooner, rather].
Preference (n.) 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.
Preference (n.) That which is preferred; the object of choice or superior favor; as, which is your preference?
Preference (n.) A strong liking; "my own preference is for good literature"; "the Irish have a penchant for blarney" [syn: preference, penchant, predilection, taste].
Preference (n.) A predisposition in favor of something; "a predilection for expensive cars"; "his sexual preferences"; "showed a Marxist orientation" [syn: predilection, preference, orientation].
Preference (n.) The right or chance to choose; "given my druthers, I'd eat cake" [syn: preference, druthers].
Preference (n.) Grant of favor or advantage to one over another (especially to a country or countries in matters of international trade, such as levying duties).
Preference. () The paying or securing to one or more of his creditors, by an insolvent debtor, the whole or a part of their claim, to the exclusion of the rest. By preference is also meant the right which a creditor has acquired over others to be paid first out of the assets of his debtor, as, when a creditor has obtained a judgment against his debtor which binds the latter's land, he has a preference.
Preference. () Voluntary preferences are forbidden by the insolvent laws of some of the states, and are void, when made in a general assignment for the benefit of creditors. Vide Insolvent; Priority.
Preference, (n.) A sentiment, or frame of mind, induced by the erroneous belief that one thing is better than another.
An ancient philosopher, expounding his conviction that life is no better than death, was asked by a disciple why, then, he did not die. "Because," he replied, "death is no better than life." It is longer.
Preferential (a.) Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential claim; preferential shares.
Preferential (a.) Manifesting partiality; "a discriminatory tax"; "preferential tariff rates"; "preferential treatment"; "a preferential shop gives priority or advantage to union members in hiring or promoting" [syn: discriminatory, preferential].
Preferment (n.) The act of choosing, or the state of being chosen; preference. [R.]
Natural preferment of the one . . . before the other. -- Sir T. Browne.
Preferment (n.) 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.
Preferment (n.) A position or office of honor or profit; as, the preferments of the church.
Preferment (n.) The act of preferring; "the preferment went to the younger candidate".
Preferment (n.) The act of making accusations; "preferment of charges".
Preferrer (n.) One who prefers.
Prefidence (n.) The quality or state of being prefident. [Obs.] -- Baxter.
Prefident (a.) Trusting beforehand; hence, overconfident. [Obs.] -- Baxter.
Prefigurate (v. t.) To prefigure. [R.] -- Grafton.
Prefiguration (n.) The act of prefiguring, or the state of being prefigured.
A variety of prophecies and prefigurations. -- Norris.
Prefiguration (n.) An example that prefigures or foreshadows what is to come
Prefiguration (n.) The act of providing vague advance indications; representing beforehand [syn: prefiguration, foreshadowing, adumbration].
Prefigurative (a.) Showing by prefiguration. "The prefigurative atonement." -- Bp. Horne.
Prefigurative (a.) Indistinctly prophetic [syn: adumbrative, foreshadowing, prefigurative].
Prefigured (imp. & p. p.) of Prefigure.
Prefiguring (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Prefigure.
Prefigure (v. t.) To show, suggest, or announce, by antecedent types and similitudes; to foreshadow. "Whom all the various types prefigured." -- South.
Prefigure (v.) Imagine or consider beforehand; "It wasn't as bad as I had prefigured".
Prefigure (v.) Indicate by signs; "These signs bode bad news" [syn: bode, portend, auspicate, prognosticate, omen, presage, betoken, foreshadow, augur, foretell, prefigure, forecast, predict].
Prefigurement (n.) The act of prefiguring; prefiguration; also, that which is prefigured. -- Carlyle.
Prefine (v. t.) To limit beforehand. [Obs.] -- Knolles.
Prefinite (a.) Prearranged. [Obs.] " Set and prefinite time." -- Holland.
Prefinition (n.) Previous limitation. [Obs.] -- Fotherby.
Prefixed (imp. & p. p.) of Prefix.
Prefixing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Prefix.
Prefix (v. t.) To put or fix before, or at the beginning of, another thing; as, to prefix a syllable to a word, or a condition to an agreement.
Prefix (v. t.) To set or appoint beforehand; to settle or establish antecedently. [Obs.] " Prefixed bounds. " -- Locke.
And now he hath to her prefixt a day. -- Spenser.
Prefix (n.) That which is prefixed; esp., one or more letters or syllables combined or united with the beginning of a word to modify its signification; as, pre- in prefix, con- in conjure.
Prefix (n.) An affix that is added in front of the word.
Prefix (v.) Attach a prefix to; "prefixed words" [ant: suffix].
Prefix
atto-
exa-
femto-
giga-
kilo-
mega-
micro-
milli-
peta-
pico-
tera-
yocto-
yotta-
zepto
zetta-
1. An SI prefix used to multiply the value of an SI (Système International) unit by some power of ten.
2. In mathematics or programming, a prefix operator is one that is written before its operand. In a programming language using prefix notation, all operators are prefix operators. (2014-07-08)
Prefixion (n.) The act of prefixing. [R.] -- Bailey.
Prefloration (n.) (Bot.) Aestivation.