Predicrotic - Prefine

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Predicrotic (?), 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.
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The predicrotic or tidal wave is best marked in a hard pulse, i. e., where the blood pressure is high. Landois & Stirling.
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Predict (?), 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 , and cf. .] To tell or declare beforehand; to foretell; to prophesy; to presage; as, to predict misfortune; to predict the return of a comet.
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Syn. -- To foretell; prophesy; prognosticate; presage; forebode; foreshow; bode.
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Predict, n. A prediction. [Obs.] Shak.
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Predictable (?), a. That may be predicted.
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Prediction (?), n. [L. praedictio: cf. F. prédiction.] The act of foretelling; also, that which is foretold; prophecy.
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The predictions of cold and long winters. Bacon.
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Syn. -- Prophecy; prognostication; foreboding; augury; divination; soothsaying; vaticination.
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Predictional (?), a. Prophetic; prognostic. [R.]
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Predictive (?), a. [L. praedictivus.] Foretelling; prophetic; foreboding. -- Predictively, adv.
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Predictor (?), n. One who predicts; a foreteller.
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Predictory (?), a. Predictive. [R.] Fuller.
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Predigest (?), v. t. (Med.) To subject (food) to predigestion or artificial digestion.
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Predigestion (?), n. 1. Digestion too soon performed; hasty digestion. [Obs.] Bacon.
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2. (Med.) Artificial digestion of food for use in illness or impaired digestion.
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Predilect (?), v. t. To elect or choose beforehand. [R.] Walter Harte.
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Predilection (?), n. [Pref. pre- + L. dilectus, p. p. diligere to prefer: cf. F. prédilection. See .] A previous liking; a prepossession of mind in favor of something; predisposition to choose or like; partiality. Burke.
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Prediscover (?), v. t. To discover beforehand.
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Prediscovery (?), n. A previous discovery.
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Predisponency (?), n. The state of being predisposed; predisposition. [R.]
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Predisponent (?), a. Disposing beforehand; predisposing. -- n. That which predisposes.
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Coloq. Predisponent causes . (Med.) See Predisposing causes, under . Dunglison.
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Predispose (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predisposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predisposing.] [Pref. pre- + dispose: cf. F. prédisposer.] 1. To dispose or incline beforehand; to give a predisposition or bias to; as, to predispose the mind to friendship.
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2. To make fit or susceptible beforehand; to give a tendency to; as, debility predisposes the body to disease.
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Coloq. Predisposing causes (Med.), causes which render the body liable to disease; predisponent causes.
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Predisposition (?), n. [Pref. pre- + disposition: cf. F. prédisposition.] 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.
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2. Previous fitness or adaptation to any change, impression, or purpose; susceptibility; -- applied to material things; as, the predisposition of the body to disease.
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Predominance (?), n. [Cf. F. prédominance.] 1. The quality or state of being predominant; superiority; ascendency; prevalence; predomination.
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The predominance of conscience over interest. South.
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2. (Astrol.) The superior influence of a planet. Shak.
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Predominancy (?), n. Predominance. Bacon.
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Predominant (?), a. [Cf. F. prédominant. See .] Having the ascendency over others; superior in strength, influence, or authority; prevailing; as, a predominant color; predominant excellence.
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Those help . . . were predominant in the king's mind. Bacon.
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Foul subordination is predominant. Shak.
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Syn. -- Prevalent; superior; prevailing; ascendant; ruling; reigning; controlling; overruling.
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Predominantly, adv. In a predominant manner.
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Predominate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Predominated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predominating.] [Pref. pre- + dominate: cf. F. prédominer.] 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.
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[Certain] rays may predominate over the rest. Sir. I. Newton.
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Predominate, v. t. To rule over; to overpower. [R.]
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Predomination (?), n. [Cf. F. prédomination.] The act or state of predominating; ascendency; predominance. W. Browne.
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Predoom (?), v. t. To foredoom.
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Predorsal (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the back; immediately in front, or on the ventral side the dorsal part of the vertebral column.
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Predy (?), a. [Cf. F. prêt ready.] Cleared and ready for engagement, as a ship. Smart.
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Preedy (?), adv. With ease. [Prov. Eng.]
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Preef (?), n. Proof. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Preëlect (?), v. t. To elect beforehand.
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Preëlection (?), n. Election beforehand.
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Preëminence (?), n. [F. prééminence, L. praeeminentia. See .] The quality or state of being preëminent; superiority in prominence or in excellence; distinction above others in quality, rank, etc.; rarely, in a bad sense, superiority or notoriety in evil; as, preëminence in honor.
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The preëminence of Christianity to any other religious scheme. Addison.
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Painful preëminence! yourself to view
Above life's weakness, and its comforts too. Pope.
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Beneath the forehead's walled preëminence. Lowell.
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Preëminent (?), a. [L. praeminens, -entis, p. pr. praeminere to be prominent, to surpass: cf. F. prééminent. See , and .] 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, preëminent in guilt.
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In goodness and in power preëminent. Milton.
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Preëminently, adv. In a preëminent degree.
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Preëmploy (?), v. t. To employ beforehand. “Preëmployed by him.” Shak.
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Preëmpt (?; 215), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Preëmpted; p. pr. & vb. n. Preëmpting.] [See .] To settle upon (public land) with a right of preemption, as under the laws of the United States; to take by preëmption.
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Preëmption (?; 215), n. [Pref. pre- + emption: cf. F. préemption. See .] 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.
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Preëmptioner (?), n. One who holds a prior right to purchase certain public land. Abbott.
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Preëmptive (?), a. Of or pertaining to preëmption; having power to preëmpt; preëmpting.
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Preëmptor (?; 215), n. [Cf. L. praeemptor.] One who preëmpts; esp., one who preëmpts public land.
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Preëmptory (?), a. Pertaining to preëmption.
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Preen (?), n. [AS. preón a clasp, bodkin; akin to D. priem punch, bodkin, awl, G. pfriem, Icel. prjōnn a knitting needle, pin, Dan. preen a bodkin, punch.] A forked tool used by clothiers in dressing cloth.
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Preen, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preening.] [See , n.; or cf. .] 1. To dress with, or as with, a preen; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers; -- said of birds. Derham.
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2. To trim up, as trees. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
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3. Hence: To dress (oneself) carefully or stylishly; to primp.
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4. To pride (oneself) on one's accomplishments; to congratulate (oneself).
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Preen, v. i. To dress up neatly and smartly; to make oneself well-groomed and well-dressed.
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2. To feel proud of one's achievement; to swell or gloat.
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Preëngage (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preëngaged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preëngaging (?).] To engage by previous contract; to bind or attach previously; to preoccupy.
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But he was preëngaged by former ties. Dryden.
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Preëngagement (?), n. Prior engagement, obligation, or attachment, as by contract, promise, or affection.
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My preëngagements to other themes were not unknown to those for whom I was to write. Boyle.
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Preërect (?), v. t. To erect beforehand.
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Prees (?), n. Press; throng. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Preëstablish, v. t. To establish beforehand.
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Preëstablishment, n. Settlement beforehand.
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Preëternity (?), n. Infinite previous duration. [R.] “The world's preëternity.” Cudworth.
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Preëxamination (?), n. Previous examination.
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Preëxamine (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preëxamined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preëxamining.] To examine beforehand.
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Preëxist (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preëxisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Preëxisting.] To exist previously; to exist before something else.
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Preëxistence (?), n. 1. Existence in a former state, or previous to something else.
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Wisdom declares her antiquity and preëxistence to all the works of this earth. T. Burnet.
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2. Existence of the soul before its union with the body; -- a doctrine held by certain philosophers. Addison.
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Preëxistency (?), n. Preëxistence. [Obs.]
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Preëxistent (?), a. Existing previously; preceding existence; as, a preëxistent state. Pope.
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Preëxistentism (?), n. (Philos.) The theory of a preëxistence of souls before their association with human bodies. Emerson.
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Preëxistimation (?), n. Previous esteem or estimation. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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Preëxpectation (?), n. Previous expectation.
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Preface (?; 48), n. [F. préface; 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 .] 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.
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This superficial tale
Is but a preface of her worthy praise. Shak.
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Heaven's high behest no preface needs. Milton.
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2. (R. C. Ch.) The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass. Addis & Arnold.
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Coloq. Proper preface (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.), a portion of the communion service, preceding the prayer of consecration, appointed for certain seasons.
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Syn. -- Introduction; preliminary; preamble; proem; prelude; prologue.
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Preface, 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.
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Preface, v. i. To make a preface. Jer. Taylor.
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Prefacer (?), n. The writer of a preface.
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Prefatorial (?), a. Prefatory.
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Prefatorily (?), adv. In a prefatory manner; by way of preface.
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Prefatory (?), a. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a preface; introductory to a book, essay, or discourse; as, prefatory remarks.
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That prefatory addition to the Creed. Dryden.
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Prefect (?), n. [L. praefectus, fr. praefectus, p. p. of praeficere to set over; prae before + facere to make: cf. F. préfet.] 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.
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2. A superintendent of a department who has control of its police establishment, together with extensive powers of municipal regulation. [France] Brande & C.
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3. In the Greek and Roman Catholic churches, a title of certain dignitaries below the rank of bishop.
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Coloq. Apostolic prefect (R. C. Ch.), the head of a mission, not of episcopal rank. Shipley.
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Prefectorial (?), a. Of or pertaining to a prefect.
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Prefectship (?), n. The office or jurisdiction of a prefect.
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Prefecture (?; 277), n. [L. praefectura: cf. F. préfecture.] The office, position, or jurisdiction of a prefect; also, his official residence.
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Prefecundation (?), n. (Physiol.) A term collectively applied to the changes or conditions preceding fecundation, especially to the changes which the ovum undergoes before fecundation.
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Prefecundatory (?), a. Of or pertaining to prefecundation.
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Prefer (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preferred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preferring.] [F. préférer, L. praeferre; prae before + ferre to bear or carry. See 1st .] 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.
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He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl. Pope.
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Presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Shak.
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Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high. Byron.
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2. To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass. [Obs.] “Though maidenhood prefer bigamy.” Chaucer.
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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.
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I would prefer him to a better place. Shak.
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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.
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If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Ps. cxxxvii. 6.
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Preferred an infamous peace before a most just war. Knolles.
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Coloq. Preferred stock , stock which takes a dividend before other capital stock; -- called also preference stock and preferential stock.
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Syn. -- To choose; elect. See .
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Preferability (?), n. The quality or state of being preferable; preferableness. J. S. Mill.
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Preferable (?), a. [Cf. F. préférable.] Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more desirable; as, a preferable scheme. Addison.
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Preferableness, n. The quality or state of being preferable.
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Preferably, adv. In preference; by choice.
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To choose Plautus preferably to Terence. Dennis.
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Preference (?), n. [Cf. F. préférence.] 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.
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Leave the critics on either side to contend about the preference due to this or that sort of poetry. Dryden.
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Knowledge of things alone gives a value to our reasonings, and preference of one man's knowledge over another's. Locke.
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2. That which is preferred; the object of choice or superior favor; as, which is your preference?
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Preferential (?), a. Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential claim; preferential shares.
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Preferential voting. (Political Science) A system of voting, as at primaries, in which the voters are allowed to indicate on their ballots their preference (usually their first and second choices) between two or more candidates for an office, so that if no candidate receives a majority of first choices the one receiving the greatest number of first and second choices together in nominated or elected.
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Preferment (?), n. 1. The act of choosing, or the state of being chosen; preference. [R.]
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Natural preferment of the one . . . before the other. Sir T. Browne.
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2. The act of preferring, or advancing in dignity or office; the state of being advanced; promotion.
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Neither royal blandishments nor promises of valuable preferment had been spared. Macaulay.
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3. A position or office of honor or profit; as, the preferments of the church.
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Preferrer (?), n. One who prefers.
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Prefidence (?), n. The quality or state of being prefident. [Obs.] Baxter.
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Prefident (?), a. [Cf. L. praefidens overconfident. See , and .] Trusting beforehand; hence, overconfident. [Obs.] Baxter.
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Prefigurate (?), v. t. [L. praefiguratus, p. p. See .] To prefigure. [R.] Grafton.
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Prefiguration (?), n. [L. praefiguratio.] The act of prefiguring, or the state of being prefigured.
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A variety of prophecies and prefigurations. Norris.
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Prefigurative (?), a. Showing by prefiguration. “The prefigurative atonement.” Bp. Horne.
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Prefigure (?; 135), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prefigured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prefiguring.] [F. préfigurer, or L. praefigurare, praefiguratum; prae before + figurare to figure. See , and cf. .] To show, suggest, or announce, by antecedent types and similitudes; to foreshadow. “Whom all the various types prefigured.” South.
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Prefigurement (?), n. The act of prefiguring; prefiguration; also, that which is prefigured. Carlyle.
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Prefine (?), v. t. [L. praefinire; prae before + finire to limit, determine: cf. F. préfiner.] To limit beforehand. [Obs.] Knolles.
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