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Webster 1913 Edition

Preside

Pre-side′

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Presided
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Presiding
.]
[L.
praesidere
;
prae
before +
sedere
to sit: cf. F.
présider
. See
Sit
.]
1.
To be set, or to sit, in the place of authority; to occupy the place of president, chairman, moderator, director, etc.; to direct, control, and regulate, as chief officer;
as, to
preside
at a public meeting; to
preside
over the senate.
2.
To exercise superintendence; to watch over.
Some o’er the public magazines
preside
.
Dryden.

Webster 1828 Edition

Preside

PRESI'DE

,
Verb.
I.
s as z. [L. proesideo; proe, before, and sedeo, to sit.]
1.
To be set over for the exercise of authority; to direct, control and govern, as the chief officer. A man may preside over a nation or province; or he may preside over a senate, or a meeting of citizens. The word is used chiefly in the latter sense. We say, a man presides over the senate with dignity. Hence it usually denotes temporary superintendence and government.
2.
To exercise superintendence; to watch over as inspector.
Some o'er the public magazines preside.

Definition 2025

preside

preside

See also: préside and présidé

English

Alternative forms

Verb

preside ‎(third-person singular simple present presides, present participle presiding, simple past and past participle presided)

  1. (intransitive) To act as president or chairperson.
  2. (intransitive) To exercise authority or control, oversit.
  3. (intransitive, music) To be a featured solo performer.

Translations

Italian

Noun

preside m, f ‎(plural presidi)

  1. (education) headmaster m, headmistress f, headteacher, schoolmaster
  2. (education) dean, principal

Related terms

Anagrams

Portuguese

Verb

preside

  1. third-person singular present indicative of presidir
  2. second-person singular imperative of presidir

Spanish

Verb

preside

  1. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present indicative form of presidir.
  2. Informal second-person singular (tú) affirmative imperative form of presidir.

Etymology

From Old French presider, from Latin praesidere ‎(“to preside”), from pre- ‎(“before”) + sedere ‎(“to sit”).

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