Part 65

Pref"ace (?; 48), n. [F. prÈface; 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 Fate.] 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.

This superficial tale Is but a preface of her worthy praise.

Shak.

Heaven's high behest no preface needs.

Milton.

2. (R. C. Ch.) The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass. Addis & Arnold.

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.

Pref"ace, 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.

Pref"ace, v. i. To make a preface. Jer. Taylor.

Pref"a*cer (?), n. The writer of a preface.

Pref`a*to"ri*al (?), a. Prefatory.

Pref"a*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a prefatory manner; by way of preface.

Pref"a*to*ry (?), 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.

Pre"fect (?), n. [L. praefectus, fr. praefectus, p. p. of praeficere to set over; prae before + facere to make: cf. F. prÈfet.] 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.

2. A superintendent of a department who has control of its police establishment, together with extensive powers of municipal regulation. [France] Brande & C.

3. 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.

Pre`fec*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a prefect.

Pre"fect*ship (?), n. The office or jurisdiction of a prefect.

Pre"fec*ture (?; 277), n. [L. praefectura: cf. F. prÈfecture.] The office, position, or jurisdiction of a prefect; also, his official residence.

Pre*fec`un*da"tion (?), n. (Physiol.) A term collectively applied to the changes or conditions preceding fecundation, especially to the changes which the ovum undergoes before fecundation.

Pre`fe*cun"da*to*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to prefecundation.

Pre*fer" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preferred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preferring.] [F. prÈfÈrer, L. praeferre; prae before + ferre to bear or carry. See 1st Bear.] 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.

He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl.

Pope.

Presently prefer his suit to CÊsar.

Shak.

Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high.

Byron.

2. To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass. [Obs.] "Though maidenhood prefer bigamy." Chaucer.

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.

I would prefer him to a better place.

Shak.

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.

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.

Pref`er*a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being preferable; preferableness. J. S. Mill.

Pref"er*a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈfÈrable.] Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more desirable; as, a preferable scheme. Addison.

Pref"er*a*ble*ness, n. The quality or state of being preferable.

Pref"er*a*bly, adv. In preference; by choice.

To choose Plautus preferably to Terence.

Dennis.

Pref"er*ence (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈfÈrence.] 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.

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.

2. That which is preferred; the object of choice or superior favor; as, which is your preference?

Pref`er*en"tial (?), a. Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential claim; preferential shares.

Pre*fer"ment (?), n. 1. The act of choosing, or the state of being chosen; preference. [R.]

Natural preferment of the one . . . before the other.

Sir T. Browne.

2. 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.

3. A position or office of honor or profit; as, the preferments of the church.

Pre*fer"rer (?), n. One who prefers.

Pref"i*dence (?), n. The quality or state of being prefident. [Obs.] Baxter.

Pref"i*dent (?), a. [Cf. L. praefidens overconfident. See Pre-, and Confident.] Trusting beforehand; hence, overconfident. [Obs.] Baxter.

Pre*fig"u*rate (?), v. t. [L. praefiguratus, p. p. See Prefigure.] To prefigure. [R.] Grafton.

Pre*fig`u*ra"tion (?), n. [L. praefiguratio.] The act of prefiguring, or the state of being prefigured.

A variety of prophecies and prefigurations.

Norris.

Pre*fig"ur*a*tive (?), a. Showing by prefiguration. "The prefigurative atonement." Bp. Horne.

Pre*fig"ure (?; 135), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prefigured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prefiguring.] [F. prÈfigurer, or L. praefigurare, praefiguratum; prae before + figurare to figure. See Figure, and cf. Prefigurate.] To show, suggest, or announce, by antecedent types and similitudes; to foreshadow. "Whom all the various types prefigured." South.

Pre*fig"ure*ment (?), n. The act of prefiguring; prefiguration; also, that which is prefigured. Carlyle.

Pre*fine" (?), v. t. [L. praefinire; prae before + finire to limit, determine: cf. F. prÈfiner.] To limit beforehand. [Obs.] Knolles.

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Pre*fi"nite (?), a. [L. praefinitus, p. p.] Prearranged. [Obs.] " Set and prefinite time." Holland.

Pref`i*ni"tion (?), n. [L. praefinitio.] Previous limitation. [Obs.] Fotherby.

Pre*fix" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prefixed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prefixing.] [L. praefixus, p. p. of praefigere to fix or fasten before; prae before + figere to fix: cf. F. prÈfix fixed beforehand, determined, prÈfixer to prefix. See Fix.]

1. 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.

2. To set or appoint beforehand; to settle or establish antecedently. [Obs.] " Prefixed bounds. " Locke.

And now he hath to her prefixt a day.

Spenser.

Pre"fix (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈfixe.] 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.

Pre*fix"ion (?), n. [Cf. OF. prefixion.] The act of prefixing. [R.] Bailey.

Pre`flo*ra"tion (?), n. [Pref. pre- + L. flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.) ∆stivation.

Pre*fo`li*a"tion (?), n. [Pref. pre- + L. folium leaf.] (Bot.) Vernation.

Pre*form" (&?;), v. t. [L. praeformare. See Pre-, and Form.] To form beforehand, or for special ends. "Their natures and preformed faculties. " Shak.

Pre`for*ma"tion (?), n. (Biol.) An old theory of the preÎxistence of germs. Cf. EmboÓtement.

Pre*form"a*tive (?), n. A formative letter at the beginning of a word. M. Stuart.

Pre*fron"tal (?), a. (Anat. & Zoˆl.) Situated in front of the frontal bone, or the frontal region of the skull; ectethmoid, as a certain bone in the nasal capsule of many animals, and certain scales of reptiles and fishes. -- n. A prefrontal bone or scale.

Pre*ful"gen*cy (?), n. [L. praefulgens, p. pr. of praefulgere to shine forth. See Pre-, and Fulgent.] Superior brightness or effulgency. [R.] Barrow.

Pre*gage" (&?;), v. t. To preÎngage. [Obs.] Fuller.

Pre*gla"cial (?), a. (Geol.) Prior to the glacial or drift period.

Preg"na*ble (?), a., [F. prenable. See Impregnable.] Capable of being entered, taken, or captured; expugnable; as, a pregnable fort. [R.] Cotgrave.

Preg"nance (?), n. Pregnancy. [Obs.] Milton.

Preg"nan*cy (?), n. 1. The condition of being pregnant; the state of being with young.

2. Figuratively: The quality of being heavy with important contents, issue, significance, etc.; unusual consequence or capacity; fertility. Fuller.

Preg"nant (?), a. [L. praegnans, -antis; prae before + genere, gignere, to beget: cf. F. prÈgnant. See Gender, 2d Kin.]

1. Being with young, as a female; having conceived; great with young; breeding; teeming; gravid; preparing to bring forth.

2. Heavy with important contents, significance, or issue; full of consequence or results; weighty; as, pregnant replies. " A pregnant argument." Prynne. " A pregnant brevity." E. Everett.

3. Full of promise; abounding in ability, resources, etc.; as, a pregnant youth. [Obs.] Evelyn.

Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.

Shak.

Pregnant construction (Rhet.), one in which more is implied than is said; as, the beasts trembled forth from their dens, that is, came forth trembling with fright.

Preg"nant, n. A pregnant woman. [R.] Dunglison.

Preg"nant, a. [F. prenant taking. Cf. Pregnable.] Affording entrance; receptive; yielding; willing; open; prompt. [Obs.] " Pregnant to good pity." Shak.

Preg"nant*ly, adv. In a pregnant manner; fruitfully; significantly.

Preg"nant*ly, adv. Unresistingly; openly; hence, clearly; evidently. [Obs.] Shak.

Pre"gra*vate (?), v. t. [L. praegravatus, p. p. of praegravare to be heavy upon, fr. praegravis very heavy.] To bear down; to depress. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Pre*grav"i*tate (?), v. i. To descend by gravity; to sink. [R.] Boyle.

Pre*gus"tant (?), a. [L. praegustans, p. pr. of praegustare to taste beforehand; prae before + gustare to taste.] Tasting beforehand; having a foretaste. [R.] Ed. Rev.

Pre`gus*ta"tion (?), n. The act of tasting beforehand; foretaste. [R.] Dr. Walker (1678).

||Pre*hal"lux (?), n. [NL. See Pre- , and Hallux.] (Anat.) An extra ||first toe, or rudiment of a toe, on the preaxial side of the hallux.

Pre*hend" (&?;), v. t. [L. prehendere. See Prehensile.] To lay hold of; to seize. [Obs.] Middleton.

Pre*hen"si-ble (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈhensible.] Capable of being seized.

Pre*hen"sile (?), a. [L. prehensus, p. p. of prehendere to lay hold of, seize; pre- (equiv. to prae before) + hendere (in comp.), akin to E. get: cf. F. prÈhensile. See Get, and cf. Prison, Prize, n.] Adapted to seize or grasp; seizing; grasping; as, the prehensile tail of a monkey.

Pre*hen"sion (?), n. [L. prehensio; cf. F. prÈhension. See Prehensile.] The act of taking hold, seizing, or grasping, as with the hand or other member.

Pre*hen"so*ry (?), a. Adapted to seize or grasp; prehensile.

Pre`his*tor"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a period before written history begins; as, the prehistoric ages; prehistoric man.

Prehn"ite (?), n. [So called from the German Colonel Prehn, who first found it.] (Min.) A pale green mineral occurring in crystalline aggregates having a botryoidal or mammillary structure, and rarely in distinct crystals. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime.

Prehn*it"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a tetrabasic acid of benzene obtained as a white crystalline substance; -- probably so called from the resemblance of the wartlike crystals to the mammillÊ on the surface of prehnite.

Pre`in*des"ig*nate (?), a. (Logic.) Having no sign expressive of quantity; indefinite. See Predesignate.

Pre*in`dis*pose" (&?;), v. t. To render indisposed beforehand. Milman.

Pre`in*struct" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preinstructed; p. pr. & vb. n. Preinstructing.] To instruct previously or beforehand. Dr. H. More.

Pre*in`ti*ma"tion (?), n. Previous intimation; a suggestion beforehand. T. Scott.

Pre*judge" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudged (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudging.] [Pref. pre + judge: cf. F. prÈjuger. Cf. Prejudicate, Prejudice.] To judge before hearing, or before full and sufficient examination; to decide or sentence by anticipation; to condemn beforehand.

The committee of council hath prejudged the whole case, by calling the united sense of both houses of Parliament" a universal clamor."

Swift.

Pre*judg"ment (?), n. The act of prejudging; decision before sufficient examination.

Pre*ju"di*ca*cy (?), n. Prejudice; prepossession. [Obs.] Sir. H. Blount.

Pre*ju"di*cal (?), a. Of or pertaining to the determination of some matter not previously decided; as, a prejudical inquiry or action at law.

Pre*ju"di*cant (?), a. [L. praejudicans, p. pr.] Influenced by prejudice; biased. [R.] " With not too hasty and prejudicant ears." Milton.

Pre*ju"di*cate (?), a. [L. praejudicatus, p. p. of praejudicare to prejudge; prae before + judicare to judge. See Judge.] 1. Formed before due examination. "Ignorance and prejudicate opinions." Jer. Taylor.

2. Biased by opinions formed prematurely; prejudiced. "Prejudicate readers." Sir T. Browne.

Pre*ju"di*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudicated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudicating.] [Cf. Prejudge.] To determine beforehand, especially to disadvantage; to prejudge.

Our dearest friend Prejudicates the business.

Shak.

Pre*ju"di*cate, v. i. To prejudge. Sir P. Sidney.

Pre*ju"di*cate*ly (?), adv. With prejudice.

Pre*ju`di*ca"tion (?), n. 1. The act of prejudicating, or of judging without due examination of facts and evidence; prejudgment.

2. (Rom. Law) (a) A preliminary inquiry and determination about something which belongs to a matter in dispute. (b) A previous treatment and decision of a point; a precedent.

Pre*ju"di*ca*tive (?), a. Forming a judgment without due examination; prejudging. Dr. H. More.

Prej"u*dice (?), n. [F. prÈjudice, L. praejudicium; prae before + judicium judgment. See Prejudicate, Judicial.] 1. Foresight. [Obs.]

Naught might hinder his quick prejudize.

Spenser.

2. An opinion or judgment formed without due examination; prejudgment; a leaning toward one side of a question from other considerations than those belonging to it; an unreasonable predilection for, or objection against, anything; especially, an opinion or leaning adverse to anything, without just grounds, or before sufficient knowledge.

Though often misled by prejudice and passion, he was emphatically an honest man.

Macaulay.

3. (Law) A bias on the part of judge, juror, or witness which interferes with fairness of judgment.

4. Mischief; hurt; damage; injury; detriment. Locke.

England and France might, through their amity, Breed him some prejudice.

Shak.

Syn. -- Prejudgment; prepossession; bias; harm; hurt; damage; detriment; mischief; disadvantage.

Prej"u*dice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudiced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudicing (?).] [Cf. F. prÈjudicier. See Prejudice, n.] 1. To cause to have prejudice; to prepossess with opinions formed without due knowledge or examination; to bias the mind of, by hasty and incorrect notions; to give an unreasonable bent to, as to one side or the other of a cause; as, to prejudice a critic or a juryman.

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

I. Watts

2. To obstruct or injure by prejudices, or by previous bias of the mind; hence, generally, to hurt; to damage; to injure; to impair; as, to prejudice a good cause.

Seek how may prejudice the foe.

Shak

Prej`u*di"cial (?), a. [L. praejudicialis belonging to a preceding judgment: cf. F. prÈjudiciel.]

1. Biased, possessed, or blinded by prejudices; as, to look with a prejudicial eye. [Obs.] Holyday.

2. Tending to obstruct or impair; hurtful; injurious; disadvantageous; detrimental. Hooker.

His going away . . . was most prejudicial and most ruinous to the king's affairs.

Clarendon.

-- Prej`u*di"cial*ly, adv. -- Prej`u*di"cial*ness, n.

Pre*knowl"edge (?), n. Prior knowledge.

Prel"a*cy (?), n.; pl. Prelacies (#). [LL. praelatia. See Prelate; cf. Prelaty.] 1. The office or dignity of a prelate; church government by prelates.

Prelacies may be termed the greater benefices.

Ayliffe.

2. The order of prelates, taken collectively; the body of ecclesiastical dignitaries. "Divers of the reverend prelacy, and other most judicious men." Hooker.

Pre"lal (?), a. [L. prelum a press.] Of or pertaining to printing; typographical. [Obs.] Fuller.

Prel"ate (?; 48), n. [F. prÈlat, LL. praelatus, fr. L. praelatus, used as p. p. of praeferre to prefer, but from a different root. See Elate.] A clergyman of a superior order, as an archbishop or a bishop, having authority over the lower clergy; a dignitary of the church.

This word and the words derived from it are often used invidiously, in English ecclesiastical history, by dissenters, respecting the Established Church system.

Hear him but reason in divinity, . . . You would desire the king were made a prelate.

Shak.

Prel"ate (?), v. i. To act as a prelate. [Obs.]

Right prelating is busy laboring, and not lording.

Latimer.

Prel`a*te"i*ty (?), n. Prelacy. [Obs.] Milton.

Prel"ate*ship, n. The office of a prelate. Harmar.

Prel"a*tess (?), n. A woman who is a prelate; the wife of a prelate. Milton.

Pre*la"tial (?), a. Prelatical. Beaconsfield.

{ Pre*lat"ic (?), Pre*lat"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to prelates or prelacy; as, prelatical authority. Macaulay.

Pre*lat"ic*al*ly, adv. In a prelatical manner; with reference to prelates. Milton.

The last Georgic was a good prelude to the ∆neis.

Pre*la"tion (?), n. [L. praelatio: cf. F. prÈlation. See Prelate, and cf. Prefer.] The setting of one above another; preference. [R.] Jer. Taylor.

Prel"a*tism (?), n. Prelacy; episcopacy.

Prel"a*tist (?), n. One who supports of advocates prelacy, or the government of the church by prelates; hence, a high-churchman. Hume.

I am an Episcopalian, but not a prelatist.

T. Scott.

Prel"a*tize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prelatized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prelatizing (?).] To bring under the influence of prelacy. Palfrey.

Prel"a*tize, v. i. To uphold or encourage prelacy; to exercise prelatical functions.

An episcopacy that began then to prelatize.

Milton.

Prel"a*try (?), n. Prelaty; prelacy. [Obs.]

{ Prel"a*ture (?; 135), Prel"a*ture*ship }, n. [F. prÈlature, or LL. praelatura.] The state or dignity of a prelate; prelacy. Milman.

Prel"a*ty (?), n. Prelacy. [Obs.] Milton.

Pre*lect" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prelected; p. pr. & vb. n. Prelecting.] [L. praelectus, p. p. of praelegere to read before. See Pre-, and Lection.] To read publicly, as a lecture or discourse.

Pre*lect", v. i. To discourse publicly; to lecture.

Spitting . . . was publicly prelected upon.

De. Quincey.

To prelect upon the military art.

Bp. Horsley.

Pre*lec"tion (?), n. [L. praelectio.] A lecture or discourse read in public or to a select company. "The prelections of Faber." Sir M. Hale.

Pre*lec"tor (?), n. [L. praelector.] A reader of lectures or discourses; a lecturer. Sheldon.

Pre`li*ba"tion (?), n. [L. praelibatio, fr. praelibare to taste beforehand: cf. F. prelibation.] 1. A tasting beforehand, or by anticipation; a foretaste; as, a prelibation of heavenly bliss.

2. A pouring out, or libation, before tasting.

Pre*lim"i*na*ri*ly (?), adv. In a preliminary manner.

Pre*lim"i*na*ry (?), a. [Pref. pre + L. liminaris belonging to a threshold, fr. limen, liminis, threshold, entrance: cf. F. prÈliminaire. Cf. Limit.] Introductory; previous; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory; as, preliminary observations to a discourse or book; preliminary articles to a treaty; preliminary measures; preliminary examinations.

Syn. -- Introductory; preparatory; prefatory; proemial; previous; prior; precedent; antecedent.

Pre*lim"i*na*ry, n.; pl. Preliminaries (&?;). That which precedes the main discourse, work, design, or business; something introductory or preparatory; as, the preliminaries to a negotiation or duel; to take one's preliminaries the year before entering college.

Syn. -- Introduction; preface; prelude.

Pre*lim"it (?), v. t. To limit previously. [R.]

Pre*look", v. i. To look forward. [Obs.] Surrey.

Pre"lude (?), n. [F. prÈlude (cf. It. preludio, LL. praeludium), fr. L. prae before + ludus play. See Prelude, v. t.] An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially (Mus.), a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; -- with recent composers often synonymous with overture.

The last Georgic was a good prelude to the ∆nis

Addison.

The cause is more than the prelude, the effect is more than the sequel, of the fact.

Whewell.

Syn. -- Preface; introduction; preliminary; preamble; forerunner; harbinger; precursor.

Pre*lude" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preluding.] [L. praeludere, praelusum; prae before + ludere to play: cf. F. prÈluder. See Ludicrous.] To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance; to serve as prelude.

The musicians preluded on their instruments.

Sir. W. Scott.

We are preluding too largely, and must come at once to the point.

Jeffrey.

Pre*lude", v. t. 1. To introduce with a previous performance; to play or perform a prelude to; as, to prelude a concert with a lively air.

2. To serve as prelude to; to precede as introductory.

[Music] preluding some great tragedy.

Longfellow

Pre*lud"er (?), n. One who, or that which, preludes; one who plays a prelude. Mason.

Pre*lud"i*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a prelude; of the nature of a prelude; introductory. [R.]

Pre*lud"i*ous (?), a. Preludial. [R.] Dr. H. More.

Pre*lum"bar (?), a. (Anat.) Situated immediately in front of the loins; -- applied to the dorsal part of the abdomen.

Pre*lu"sive (?), a. [See Prelude.] Of the nature of a prelude; introductory; indicating that something of a like kind is to follow. "Prelusive drops." Thomson. --Pre*lu"sive*ly, adv.

Pre*lu"so*ri*ly (?), adv. In a prelusory way.

Pre*lu"so*ry (?), a. Introductory; prelusive. Bacon.

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Pre`ma*ture" (?), a. [L. praematurus; prae before + maturus ripe. See Mature.] 1. Mature or ripe before the proper time; as, the premature fruits of a hotbed.

2. Happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper or usual time; adopted too soon; too early; untimely; as, a premature fall of snow; a premature birth; a premature opinion; premature decay.

3. Arriving or received without due authentication or evidence; as, a premature report.

-- Pre`ma*ture"ly, adv. -- Pre`ma*ture"ness, n.

Pre`ma*tu"ri*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈmaturitÈ.] The quality or state of being premature; early, or untimely, ripeness; as, the prematurity of genius.

||Pre"max*il"la (?), n.; pl. PremaxillÊ (#). [NL. See Pre-, and ||Maxilla.] (Anat.) A bone on either side of the middle line between ||the nose and mouth, forming the anterior part of each half of the ||upper jawbone; the intermaxilla. In man the premaxillÊ become united ||and form the incisor part of the maxillary bone.

Pre*max"il*la*ry (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the maxillary bones; pertaining to the premaxillÊ; intermaxillary. -- n. A premaxilla.

Pre*me"di*ate (?), v. t. To advocate. [R.]

Pre*med"i*tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Premeditated (-t`t?d); p. pr. & vb. n. Premeditating.] [L. praemeditatus, p. p. of praemeditari; prae before + meditari to meditate. See Meditate.] To think on, and revolve in the mind, beforehand; to contrive and design previously; as, to premeditate robbery.

With words premeditated thus he said.

Dryden.

Pre*med"i*tate, v. i. To think, consider, deliberate, or revolve in the mind, beforehand.

Pre*med"i*tate (?), a. [L. praemeditatus, p. p.] Premeditated; deliberate. [Archaic] Bp. Burnet.

Pre*med"i*tate*ly, adv. With premeditation. Burke.

Pre*med`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. praemeditatio: cf. F. prÈmÈditation.] The act of meditating or contriving beforehand; previous deliberation; forethought.

Pre*mer"it (?), v. t. To merit or deserve beforehand. [Obs.] Eikon Basi&?;&?;ke.

{ Pre"mi*al (?), Pre"mi*ant (?), } a. [L. praemialis. See Premium.] Serving to reward; rewarding. [R.] Baxter.

Prem"i*ces (?), n. pl. [F. prÈmices, L. primitiae. See Primitia.] First fruits. [Obs.] Dryden.

Pre"mi*er (?), a. [F. premier, fr. L. primarius of the first rank, principal, fr. primus the first. See Primary, Prime, a.] 1. First; chief; principal; as, the premier place; premier minister. Camden. Swift.

2. Most ancient; -- said of the peer bearing the oldest title of his degree.

Pre"mi*er (?), n. The first minister of state; the prime minister.

Pre"mi*er*ship, n. The office of the premier.

Pre`mil*len"ni*al (?), a. Previous to the millennium.

Pre"mi*ous (?), a. [L. praemiosus, fr. praemium a premium.] Rich in gifts. [R.] Clarke.