_presser_--L. _press[=a]re_--_prem[)e]re_, _pressum_, to squeeze.]
PRESS, pres, _n._ an instrument for squeezing bodies: a printing-machine: the art or business of printing and publishing: act of urging forward: urgency: strong demand: a crowd: a closet for holding articles.--_ns._ PRESS'-BED, a bed enclosed in a cupboard, or folding up into it; PRESS'FAT (_B._), the vat of an olive or wine press for collecting the liquor; PRESS'MAN, one who works a printing-press: a journalist or reporter: a member of a pressgang; PRESS'MARK, a mark upon a book to show its place among others in a library; PRESS'-ROOM, a room where printing-presses are worked; PRESS'-WORK, the operation of taking impressions from type or plates by means of the printing-press.--PRESS OF SAIL, as much sail as can be carried.--BRAHMAH PRESS, a hydraulic press called after Mr _Brahmah_, its inventor; CYLINDER PRESS, a printing-press in which the types are laid on a cylinder which revolves, instead of on a flat surface; HYDRAULIC PRESS (see HYDRAULIC); LIBERTY OF THE PRESS, the right of publishing books, &c., without submitting them to a government authority for permission; THE PRESS, the literature of a country, esp. its newspapers.
PRESS, pres, _v.t._ to carry men off by violence to become soldiers or sailors.--_ns._ PRESS'GANG, a gang or body of sailors under an officer empowered to impress men into the navy; PRESS'-MON'EY (for _prest-money_), earnest-money. [Corr. from old form _prest_, from O. Fr. _prester_ (Fr.
_preter_), to lend--_praest[=a]re_, to offer--_prae_, before, _st[=a]re_, to stand.]
PRESSIROSTER, pres-si-ros't[.e]r, _n._ one of a tribe of wading birds, the PRESSIROS'TRES, having a flattened beak.--_adj._ PRESSIROS'TRAL. [L.
_pressus_, pa.p. of _prem[)e]re_, to press, _rostrum_, a beak.]
PRESSURE, presh'[=u]r, _n._ act of pressing or squeezing: the state of being pressed: impulse: constraining force or influence: that which presses or afflicts: difficulties: urgency: strong demand: (_physics_) the action of force on something resisting it.--CENTRE OF PRESSURE (see CENTRE). [O.
Fr.,--L. _pressura_--_prem[)e]re_, to press.]
PREST, prest, _adj._ ready: neat: at hand.--_n._ ready-money: a loan.--_v.t._ to pay out: to lend. [L. _praesto_, ready.]
PRESTER JOHN, pres't[.e]r jon, _n._ the name applied by medieval credulity (12th-14th cent.) to the supposed Christian sovereign of a vast empire in Central Asia. [O. Fr. _prester_ (Fr. _pretre_), priest.]
PRESTIDIGITATION, pres-ti-dij-i-t[=a]'shun, _n._ sleight of hand--also PRESTIG'I[=A]TION.--_adj._ PRESTIDIG'ITAL.--_ns._ PRESTIDIG'IT[=A]TOR, PRESTIG'I[=A]TOR, one who practises sleight of hand.
PRESTIGE, pres-t[=e]zh', or pres'tij, _n._ influence arising from past conduct or from reputation. [Fr.,--L. _praestigium_, delusion--_praestingu[)e]re_, to deceive.]
PRESTO, pres'to, _adv._ quick: at once: (_mus._) quickly, quicker than _allegro_:--_superl._ PRESTIS'SIMO. [It.,--L. _praesto_, ready.]
PRESTRICTION, pr[=e]-strik'shun, _n._ blindness. [L. _praestring[)e]re_, _praestrictum_, to draw tight.]
PRESTUDY, pr[=e]-stud'i, _v.t._ to study beforehand.
PRESULTOR, pr[=e]-sul'tor, _n._ a leader of a dance.
PRESUME, pr[=e]-z[=u]m', _v.t._ to take as true without examination or proof: to take for granted.--_v.i._ to venture beyond what one has ground for: to act forwardly or without proper right.--_adj._ PRES[=U]M'ABLE, that may be presumed or supposed to be true.--_adv._ PRES[=U]M'ABLY.--_adj._ PRES[=U]M'ING, venturing without permission: unreasonably bold.--_adv._ PRES[=U]M'INGLY.--_n._ PRESUMP'TION, act of presuming: supposition: strong probability: that which is taken for granted: confidence grounded on something not proved: conduct going beyond proper bounds: (_law_) an assuming of the truth of certain facts from the existence of others having some connection with them.--_adj._ PRESUMP'TIVE, presuming: grounded on probable evidence: (_law_) proving circumstantially.--_adv._ PRESUMP'TIVELY.--PRESUMPTIVE EVIDENCE, evidence for a fact derived from other facts having some connection with it: indirect evidence.--HEIR PRESUMPTIVE, the person, not son or daughter, at present next in succession to any living person. [Fr. _presumer_--L. _praesum[)e]re_--_prae_, before, _sum[)e]re_, to take--_sub_, under, _em[)e]re_, to buy.]
PRESUMPTUOUS, pr[=e]-zump't[=u]-us, _adj._ full of presumption: going beyond the bounds of right or duty: bold and confident: founded on presumption: wilful.--_adv._ PRESUMP'TUOUSLY.--_n._ PRESUMP'TUOUSNESS. [L.
_praesumptuosus_.]
PRESUPPOSE, pr[=e]-sup-p[=o]z', _v.t._ to suppose before actual knowledge: to assume or take for granted.--_n._ PRESUPPOSI'TION.
PRESURMISE, pr[=e]-sur-m[=i]z', _n._ (_Shak._) a surmise previously formed.
PRETEND, pr[=e]-tend', _v.t._ to hold out as a cloak for something else: to lay claim to: to attempt, undertake: to offer as true something that is not so: to affect to feel: (_obs._) to offer, present.--_v.i._ to put in a claim: to make-believe.--_ns._ PRETENCE', something pretended: appearance or show to hide reality: false show or reason: pretext: assumption: claim; PRETEN'DANT, -ENT, a pretender.--_adjs_. PRETEN'DED, PRETEN'SED, ostensible, assumed.--_adv._ PRETEN'DEDLY.--_ns._ PRETEN'DER; PRETEN'DERSHIP.--_adv._ PRETEN'DINGLY.--_n._ PRETEN'SION, act of pretending: something pretended: false or fictitious appearance: claim either true or false.--_adj._ PRETEN'TIOUS, marked by or containing pretence: claiming more than is warranted: presumptuous: arrogant.--_adv._ PRETEN'TIOUSLY, in a pretentious manner.--_n._ PRETEN'TIOUSNESS, the quality of being pretentious. [Fr. _pretendre_--L. _praetend[)e]re_--_prae_, before, _tend[)e]re_, _tentum_, _tensum_, to stretch.]
PRETENSE. Same as PRETENCE.
PRETERCANINE, pr[=e]-t[.e]r-ka-n[=i]n', _adj._ more than canine.
PRETERHUMAN, pr[=e]-t[.e]r-h[=u]'man, _adj._ more than human.
PRETERIMPERFECT, pr[=e]-t[.e]r-im-p[.e]r'fekt, _adj._ implying that an event was happening at a certain past time.
PRETERITE, pret'[.e]r-it, _adj._ gone by: past: noting the past tense.--_n._ the past tense.--_ns._ PRET'ERIST, one who holds the prophecies of the Apocalypse already fulfilled; PRET'ERITENESS.--_adj._ PRETERI'TIAL (_biol._), once active but now latent.--_n._ PRETERI'TION, the act of passing over: the doctrine that God passes over the non-elect in electing to eternal life those predestinated to salvation.--_adj._ PRETER'ITIVE, expressing past times. [L. _praeteritus_--_praeter_, beyond, _[=i]re_, _[=i]tum_, to go.]
PRETERMIT, pr[=e]-t[.e]r-mit', _v.t._ to pass by: to omit: to leave undone:--_pr.p._ pr[=e]termit'ting; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ pr[=e]termit'ted.--_n._ PRETERMIS'SION, the act of passing by: omission.
[L. _praeter_, past, _mitt[)e]re_, to send.]
PRETERNATURAL, pr[=e]-t[.e]r-nat'[=u]-ral, _adj._ beyond what is natural: out of the regular course of things: extraordinary.--_n._ PRETERNAT'URALISM, belief in the preternatural: preternatural existence.--_adv._ PRETERNAT'URALLY.--_n._ PRETERNAT'URALNESS.
PRETERNUPTIAL, pr[=e]-ter-nup'shal, _adj._ adulterous.
PRETERPERFECT, pr[=e]-t[.e]r-p[.e]r'fekt, _adj._ denoting the perfect tense.
PRETERPLUPERFECT, pr[=e]-t[.e]r-pl[=oo]'p[.e]r-fekt, _adj._ denoting the pluperfect tense.
PRETEXT, pr[=e]'tekst, or pr[=e]-tekst', _n._ an assumed motive or reason put forward to conceal the real one: a pretence. [L.
_praetextum_--_praetex[)e]re_--_prae_, before, _tex[)e]re_, to weave.]
PRETHOUGHTFUL, pr[=e]-thawt'f[=oo]l, _adj._ forethoughtful, prudent.
PRETIBIAL, pr[=e]-tib'i-al, _adj._ situated upon the front of the lower part of the leg.
PRETOR, &c. See PRaeTOR, &c.
PRETTY, pret'i, _adj._ tasteful: pleasing to the eye: having attractive but not striking beauty: neat: beautiful without dignity: small: affected: moderately large, considerable: puny, weak (a term of endearment): (in contempt) fine: (_obs._) shrewd, cunning: (_obs._) strong, warlike.--_adv._ in some degree: moderately.--_v.t._ PRETT'IFY, to make pretty in an excessively ornamental way.--_adv._ PRETT'ILY, in a pretty manner: pleasingly: elegantly: neatly.--_n._ PRETT'INESS.--_adj._ PRETT'YISH, somewhat pretty.--_n._ PRETT'YPRETTY (_coll._), a knick-knack.--_adj._ PRETT'Y-SP[=O]'KEN, speaking or spoken prettily.--PRETTY MUCH, very nearly.
[A.S. _praettig_, tricky--_praett_, trickery; prob. Low L. _practicus_--Gr.
_praktikos_--_prattein_, to do.]
PRETYPIFY, pr[=e]-tip'i-f[=i], _v.t._ to represent by a type what is to happen: to prefigure.
PRETZEL, pret'sel, _n._ a brittle biscuit, cracknel. [Ger.,--Old High Ger.
_brizilla_, _prezitella_--Low L. _bracellus_, also _braciolum_, a kind of cake.]
PREVAIL, pr[=e]-v[=a]l', _v.i._ to be very powerful: to gain the victory: to have the upper hand: to have greater influence or effect: to overcome: to be in force: to succeed.--_v.t._ (_obs.)_ avail.--_adj._ PREVAIL'ING, having great power: controlling: bringing about results: very general or common.--_adv._ PREVAIL'INGLY.--_ns._ PREVAIL'MENT (_Shak._), prevalence; PREV'ALENCE, PREV'ALENCY, the state of being prevalent or wide-spread: superior strength or influence: preponderance: efficacy.--_adj._ PREV'ALENT, prevailing: having great power: victorious: wide-spread: most common.--_adv._ PREV'ALENTLY. [Fr. _prevaloir_--L. _praeval[=e]re_--_prae_, before, _val[=e]re_, to be powerful.]
PREVARICATE, pr[=e]-var'i-k[=a]t, _v.i._ to shift about from side to side, to evade the truth: to quibble: (_obs._) to undertake a thing with the purpose of defeating or destroying it: (_law_) to betray a client by collusion with his opponent.--_v.t._ (_obs._) to pervert, transgress.--_ns._ PR[=E]VARIC[=A]'TION, the act of quibbling to evade the truth; PR[=E]VAR'IC[=A]TOR, one who prevaricates to evade the truth: a quibbler. [L. _praevaric[=a]ri_, _-[=a]tus_--_prae_, inten., _varicus_, straddling--_varus_, bent.]
PREVENANCY, prev'[=e]-nan-si, _n._ complaisance.
PREVENT, pr[=e]-vent', _v.t._ to hinder: to check: to render impossible: (_orig._) to go before: to be earlier than.--_v.t._ PR[=E]VENE' (rare), to precede.--_n._ PREV[=E]'NIENCE.--_adj._ PREV[=E]'NIENT (_Milt._), going before: preceding: preventive.--_n._ PREVENTABIL'ITY, the quality of being preventable.--_adj._ PREVEN'TABLE, that may be prevented or hindered.--_ns._ PREVEN'TER, one who, or that which, prevents or hinders: (_naut._) an additional rope or spar for strengthening the ordinary one; PREVEN'TION, act of preventing: anticipation or forethought: obstruction.--_adjs._ PREVEN'TIVE, PREVEN'TATIVE, tending to prevent or hinder: preservative.--_n._ that which prevents: a preservative.--_adv._ PREVEN'TIVELY.--_n._ PREVEN'TIVENESS.--PREVENTIVE SERVICE, the service rendered by the coastguard in preventing smuggling. [L. _praeventus_, pa.p.
of _praeven[=i]re_--_prae_, before, _ven[=i]re_, to come.]
PREVERTEBRAL, pr[=e]-v[.e]r'te-bral, _adj._ situated or developing before the vertebrae.
PREVIOUS, pr[=e]'vi-us, _adj._ going before in time: former.--_adv._ PR[=E]'VIOUSLY.--_n._ PR[=E]'VIOUSNESS, antecedence: priority in time.--PREVIOUS QUESTION, a motion made during a debate, 'that the main question be now put.' If the decision be 'yes,' the debate is ended and the question put and decided; if it be 'no,' the debate is adjourned in the British parliament, but continues in the American assembly. [L.
_praeevius_--_prae_, before, _via_, a way.]
PREVISE, pr[=e]-viz', _v.t._ to foresee: to forewarn.--_n._ PREVI'SION, foresight: foreknowledge. [L. _praevid[=e]re_, _praevisum_, to foresee--_prae_, before, _vid[=e]re_, to see.]
PREWARN, pr[=e]-wawrn', _v.t._ to warn beforehand.
PREX, preks, _n._ in U.S. college slang the president of a college.--Also PREX'Y.
PREY, pr[=a], _n._ that which is taken by robbery or force: booty: plunder: that which is or may be seized to be devoured: a victim: depredation: (_Shak._) the act of seizing.--_v.i._ to take plunder: to seize and devour: to waste or impair gradually: to weigh heavily (_on_ or _upon_), as the mind.--_adj._ PREY'FUL (_Shak._), having a disposition to prey on others.--BEAST OF PREY, one who devours other animals. [O. Fr. _praie_ (Fr.