Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Present
Pres′ent
,Adj.
[F.
présent
, L. praesens
,-entis
, that is before one, in sight or at hand, p. p. of praeesse
to be before; prae
before + esse
to be. See Essence
.] 1.
Being at hand, within reach or call, within certain contemplated limits; – opposed to absent.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet
present
with you. John xiv. 25.
2.
Now existing, or in process; begun but not ended; now in view, or under consideration; being at this time; not past or future;
as, the
present
session of Congress; the present
state of affairs; the present
instance.I’ll bring thee to the
present
business Shakespeare
3.
Not delayed; immediate; instant; coincident.
“A present recompense.” “A present pardon.” Shak.
An ambassador . . . desires a
present
audience. Massinger.
4.
Ready; quick in emergency; as a present wit.
[R.]
5.
Favorably attentive; propitious.
[Archaic]
To find a god so
present
to my prayer. Dryden.
Present tense
(Gram.)
, the tense or form of a verb which expresses action or being in the present time; as, I am writing, I write, or I do write.
1.
Present time; the time being; time in progress now, or at the moment contemplated; as, at this present.
Past and
present
, wound in one. Tennyson.
2.
pl.
(Law)
Present letters or instrument, as a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney, or other writing; as in the phrase, “ Know all men by these presents,” that is, by the writing itself, “ per has literas praesentes; ” – in this sense, rarely used in the singular.
3.
(Gram.)
A present tense, or the form of the verb denoting the present tense.
At present
, at the present time; now.
– For the present
, for the tine being; temporarily.
– In present
, at once, without delay.
[Obs.]
“With them, in present, half his kingdom; the rest to follow at his death.” Milton.
Pre-sent′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Presented
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Presenting
.] 1.
To bring or introduce into the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to introduce formally; to offer for acquaintance;
as, to
; (with the reciprocal pronoun) to come into the presence of a superior. present
an envoy to the kingNow there was a day when the sons of God came to
present
themselves before the lord. Job i. 6
2.
To exhibit or offer to view or notice; to lay before one's perception or cognizance; to set forth; to present a fine appearance.
Lectorides's memory is ever . . .
presenting
him with the thoughts of other persons. I. Watts.
3.
To pass over, esp. in a ceremonious manner; to give in charge or possession; to deliver; to make over.
So ladies in romance assist their knight,
Present
the spear, and arm him for the fight. Pope.
4.
To make a gift of; to bestow; to give, generally in a formal or ceremonious manner; to grant; to confer.
My last, least offering, I
present
thee now. Cowper.
5.
Hence: To endow; to bestow a gift upon; to favor, as with a donation; also, to court by gifts.
Octavia
presented
the poet for him admirable elegy on her son Marcellus. Dryden.
6.
To present; to personate.
[Obs.]
Shak.
7.
In specific uses; (a)
To nominate to an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
The patron of a church may
present
his clerk to a parsonage or vicarage; that is, may offer him to the bishop of the diocese to be instituted. Blackstone.
(b)
To nominate for support at a public school or other institution .
Lamb.
(c)
To lay before a public body, or an official, for consideration, as before a legislature, a court of judicature, a corporation, etc.;
as, to
. present
a memorial, petition, remonstrance, or indictment(d)
To lay before a court as an object of inquiry; to give notice officially of, as a crime of offence; to find or represent judicially;
as, a grand jury
. present
certain offenses or nuisances, or whatever they think to be public injuries(e)
To bring an indictment against .
[U.S]
(f)
To aim, point, or direct, as a weapon;
as, to
. present
a pistol or the point of a sword to the breast of anotherPesent arms
(Mil.)
, the command in response to which the gun is carried perpendicularly in front of the center of the body, and held there with the left hand grasping it at the lower band, and the right hand grasping the small of the stock, in token of respect, as in saluting a superior officer; also, the position taken at such a command.
Pre-sent′
,Verb.
I.
(Med.)
To appear at the mouth of the uterus so as to be perceptible to the finger in vaginal examination; – said of a part of an infant during labor.
Pres′ent
,Noun.
[F.
présent
.] Anything presented or given; a gift; a donative;
as, a Christmas
. present
Syn. – Gift; donation; donative; benefaction. See
Gift
. Pre-sent′
,Noun.
(Mil.)
The position of a soldier in presenting arms;
as, to stand at
. present
Webster 1828 Edition
Present
PRES'ENT
,Adj.
1.
Being in a certain place; opposed to absent.2.
Being before the face or near; being in company. Inquire of some of the gentlemen present. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. John 14.
3.
Being now in view or under consideration. In the present instance, facts will not warrant the conclusion. The present question must be decided on different principles.4.
Now existing, or being at this time; not past or future; as the present session of congress. The court is in session at the present time. We say, a present good,the present year or age.5.
Ready at hand; quick in emergency; as present wit. 'Tis a high point of philosophy and virtue for a man to be present to himself.
6.
Favorably attentive; not heedless; propitious. Nor could I hope in any place but there
To find a god so present to my prayer.
7.
Not absent of mind; not abstracted; attentive.The present, an elliptical expression for the present time.
At present, elliptically for, at the present time.
Present tense, in grammar, the tense or form of a verb which expresses action or being in the present time, as I am writing; or something that exists at all times, as virtue is always to be preferred to vice; or it expresses habits or general truths, as plants spring from the earth; fishes swim; reptiles creep; birds fly; some animals subsist on herbage, others are carnivorous.
PRES'ENT
,Noun.
Presents' in the plural, is used in law for a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney or other writing; as in the phrase, 'Know all men by these presents,' that is, by the writing itself, per presentes. In this sense, it is rarely used in the singular.