释义 |
presidentn.Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French president; Latin praesident-, praesidēns. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Middle French president (French président ) appointed or elected head of any gathering (c1296 in Old French) and its etymon classical Latin praesident-, praesidēns governor, in post-classical Latin also head of a Christian community (early 3rd cent. in Tertullian), head of an academic institution (a1350, 16th cent. (frequently) in British sources), use as noun of present participle of praesidēre preside v. Compare Old Occitan president (c1350), Catalan president (14th cent.), Spanish presidente (1385 as presidentes , plural; compare presidente n.), Portuguese presidente (15th cent.), Italian presidente (a1342). Compare president adj.Other senses of the English word are not paralleled in French until later, e.g. sense 1a (1553) and sense 4 (1792). In President of the Immortals at sense 1b after ancient Greek μακάρων πρύτανις ( Aeschylus Prometheus Bound 169). 1. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > governor of province, dependency, or colony > [noun] society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > [noun] > president or chairperson of a1382 (Bodl. 959) 3 Esdras v. 63 Þer camen of preestis & of leuytis & of presidentis [L. præsidentibus] after þe townes to þe elderes þat hadden seen þe raþer hous. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds xxiii. 24 Make ȝe redy iumentis, or hors, that thei puttinge Poul vpon, schulden lede him saf to Felix, president [L. præsidem]. c1435 J. Lydgate St. George (Bodl.) in (1910–11) 43 18 (MED) Agayn Cristene þer was a tyrant sent..Of peynym lawe he was a president. c1480 (a1400) St. Lucy 192 in W. M. Metcalfe (1896) II. 392 Befor kingis quhen ȝe sal stand or befor precydentis of þe land. 1520 iv. f. 31v/1 Vitellus that was Presydent of Fraunce chalenged the Empyre. 1554 D. Lindsay iii. sig. M.viii Ponce Pylat, the precedent, Said to thame, I am Innocent of the Iust Blude, of Christ Iesus. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta vi. xx. 475 They said Pizarre was afterwards vanquished, taken, and executed by the President Guasca. 1607 J. Cowell sig. Eee2v/2 President..is vsed in the Common law for the kings Lieutenent in any Prouince or function: as President of Wales, of Yorke, of Barwick. President of the Kings Councell. 1625 S. Purchas II. ix. iv. 1793 At a consultation in Swally Road, the fourteenth of Nouember, 1621, commission was giuen by Master Thomas Rastell President, and the Counsell of the Merchants of Surat, [etc.]. 1683 148 They wrote to Ætius, then President of Gallia, this short but lamentable Epistle. 1729 J. Disney ix. §2 315 He gave liberty also to the Bishops, in concert with the President of the Province, to convene those that had so compelled them, or hindred their quitting. 1777 R. Watson I. x. 285 When the States found that the governor was equally deaf to the remonstrances of the president, as he had been to theirs, they began to dread the effects of his displeasure. 1823 21 June 3/2 The case recently brought by Mr. Sergeant Rough, late President of the colony, before the Privy Council. 1863 M. Howitt tr. F. Bremer I. vi. 190 The presidents are changed, and the advocates of order are often compelled to fly before the power of the lawless. 1891 E. Abbott xii. 175 The government was a close oligarchy, the supreme council being formed by the heads of the tribes, of whom one was chosen annually to be the President of the city. 1914 W. H. Dawson ii. 51 Supervision is exercised in the case of Prussian towns through the Chief Presidents of Provinces, the Government or District Presidents, and the District Committees. 1938 53 172 The notable administration of Gerald Aungier as President of Surat and Governor of Bombay in the reign of Charles II. 1999 J. G. Peard i. 28 Already in 1853 João Maurício Wanderley, then president of the province, had pointed to a litany of woes plaguing the Santa Casa hospital. the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > patronage > [noun] > patron the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > [noun] > one who looks after > protector or patron a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil x. v. 97 O blyssyt moder of the goddis..be thou in batall now my president [L. princeps]. 1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid (new ed.) vi. f. 74v At this match..Was neyther Iuno, President of mariage [L. pronuba Iuno] wont to bee. 1615 H. Crooke 238 The Nymphes are sayed to bee presedents or dieties of the fountaines. c1650 216 I do most humbly beseech you (sole president of Divine Excellency..) to let me kiss the wonder of your hands. 1699 J. Potter II. iii. xx. 165 The Tutelar Deities of the Place, and Presidents of the Sea. 1708 in J. Hughes (1772) 269 Great president of light and eye of day, As through this glass you cast your visual ray, Confess, that, in your progress round the sphere, You've found the happiest youths and brightest beauties here. 1891 T. Hardy III. lix. 277 ‘Justice’ was done, and the President of the Immortals (in Æschylean phrase), had ended his sport with Tess. 1898 A. Lang xvii. 317 In polytheism that conception is necessarily obscured, showing itself dimly either in the Prytanis, or President of the Immortals, such as Zeus; or in Fate. 1942 C. Morley v. 378 You don't know how lucky you were: the President of the Immortals had the lines all laid for you to run respectful in the groove and end up just a provincial clark or a shopman like me. How did you slip your mooring? 1986 R. Barnard iv. 30 Mrs. Cordle's outburst was at once an expression of complete mystification and a personal protest to the President of the Immortals. 2. An appointed or elected head of any gathering, who presides over meetings and proceedings. society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > one who presides > over a body of persons or their meetings c1390 (Vernon) 304 Þou hast Ibe presedent, þe peple to steere, Þou dotest nou on þin olde tos in þe dismale. 1417 in T. Rymer (1709) IX. 435 (MED) And ther my Lord of Chester, the Presedent [L. Præses] of ȝour Nation, hadd his Wordis to hym in swych a wyse. a1475 J. Fortescue (Laud) (1885) 148 (MED) Þe chaunceler..mey be presydent and haue þe suppreme rule off all þe counsell. a1538 T. Starkey (1989) 122 Of the wych [council] the kyng schold be hede & presydent. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. clxxviijv He would assigne some to be as presidentes of the disputation. 1641 in J. Rushworth (1692) I. 294 Because all meetings of many must be disorderly,..unless there be one to guide and to direct the rest, I shall desire, that in every Shire, over every Presbytery, we may establish one President. 1663 J. Taylor 44 He receiv'd publick thanks from the Convocation, of which he was President. 1741 S. Johnson Deb. Senate Lilliput in Sept. 466 The President of the Clinabs who always in a Committee takes his Seat as another Member, rose here, and spoke. 1781 E. Gibbon II. xvii. 35 After the office of Roman consuls had been changed into a vain pageant,..the præfects..were soon acknowledged as the ordinary presidents of that venerable assembly. a1827 W. Hickey (1918) II. xxi. 288 ‘Let these twenty people dine together twice a week,..each person ordering a dinner at which he is to preside..’ The rules were simple..the President for the day to discharge the bill,..the proprietor of the [tavern] to send in his bill..to the residence of the President. 1877 21 Dec. 3/3 M. Lepère..President of the group of decided Republicans, has been appointed Under-Secretary for the Interior. 1977 6 Dec. (Europa Suppl.) p. iii./5 President: title enjoyed for six months by each member state in turn. The country holding the presidency chairs meetings of the Council. 1990 7 June 10/4 In Methodism we are never without a President. Like the monarchy ‘the President is dead, long live the President’. society > faith > church government > monasticism > religious superior > conventual head > [noun] c1410 tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 165 Elfworde, bisshop of Londoun and somtyme abbot of Evesham..wolde have bene president [L. præsidere] at Evesham. c1451 J. Capgrave (1910) 89 (MED) Þou spak to me, þi seruaunt, þat I schuld take up-on me to be president ouyr þis puple [sc. the Gilbertines]. ?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden (Harl. 2261) (1876) VI. 385 (MED) Alurede..made ij monasterys, oon of men..an oþer of women..where he made Ethelgof, his doȝhter, presidente [a1387 J. Trevisa tr. abbesse]. a1513 H. Bradshaw (1521) i.xxiii. sig. h.iiii [She] Consyderynge her selfe, a lady and presydent Ordered her monasteryes. 1519 in J. T. Fowler (1882) I. 315 Master Newman, Precedent of the Chapitor of Ripon. 1579 in J. Robertson (1857) III. 399 With consent of the precedent and chaptur of Abirdene. 1603 in E. Gibson (1713) i. 379 Canon 1603..li... The Deans, Presidents, and Residentiaries of any Cathedrel or Collegiate Church, shall suffer no stranger to Preach unto the People in his Churches. ?1625 F. Godwin 363 A Deane to be the President of the Chapter, and a Subdeane to supply his place in absence. 1690–1700 sig. Civv These xiij persons or vij of them at the leaste, the President being one of the Number. 1703 W. Wake ii. 73 The President of the Chapter, by, and with, the Consent of his Brethren, and fellow Canons, decreed that they would proceed with the Convocation. 1742 J. Glas v. vi. 241 The Elder, who is distinguished..by the Name President, is he who presided ordinarily in the Assemblies of the Church and had the chief Direction in their Order and Discipline. 1779 S. Rudder 133 In 1222, he..was appointed a president of the chapter of the benedictines at Bermondsey. 1840 21 Nov. 6/3 Archdeacon Torrens, the President of the Chapter, will, I am informed, if possible, hold himself neutral. 1950 11 July 4/7 To-day the King on the right hand and the Queen on the left walked together, followed by Princess Margaret, in procession behind the sixty-seventh Bishop of Exeter..and the President of the Chapter, the Bishop Suffragan of Credition. society > education > educational administration > university administration > [noun] > head of college 1448 in (1851) 9 38 (MED) This indenture made..betwen master Andrew Dokett, president of the Quene college of seynt Margret and seynt Barnard..and John Veyse. 1464 V. 518/1 Felawes and Scolers, President and Felawes of any College, Halle, Hospitall, Hous incorporate, or any other place. 1530 T. Cromwell in R. B. Merriman (1902) I. 329 He..was ons ellect presydent of Maudlen Colledge. 1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. ii. vi. f. 79v/2, in R. Holinshed I There is..in euery house a Maister, who hath vnder him a president, and certeine Censors or Deanes, appointed to looke to the behauiour, & maner of the Studentes there. ?1625 F. Godwin 682 Owen Oglethorp, Doctor of Diuinity, Deane of Windsor, and President of Magdalen Colledge in Oxord. 1642 in N. B. Shurtleff (1853) II. 30 Together with the teaching elders of the sixe next adioyning townes..and the president of the colledge [sc. Harvard] for the time being. 1695 C. Mather 78 The next [sc. child] is at this Time, Living, the Comfort of One Well known in both Englands, namely Increase Mather, the President of Harvard Colledge, and the Teacher of a Church in Boston. 1725 G. Berkeley (rev. ed.) 21 Which college is to contain a president and nine fellows. 1780 in IX. iii Respecting the College what accounts you have received officially from the President I am unable to say. 1807 (Hall) 37–38 No class meetings shall be held without special license from the President. 1844 20 Jan. 3/5 The Venerable Dr. Routh, President of Magdalen College, has sent a letter to the committee. 1888 J. Bryce III. cii. 435 A visitor from Europe is struck by the prominence of the president in an American university or college, and the almost monarchical position which he sometimes occupies. 1916 A. Leffingwell xv. 233 Sir Douglas Powell, President of the Royal College of Physicians..was asked whether the laws at present governing vivisection ‘have been in any way noxious to Science?’ 1956 E. F. Sekler 44 In 1664 Ralph Bathurst, a member of the Royal Society, became President of Trinity College, Oxford. 1999 (Nexis) 14 Jan. 12 The cemetery is the last resting place of several notable Ulstermen, including..the Rev J Leslie Porter, President of Queen's College, Belfast. 2006 (Nexis) 1 Jan. 4 e The novel opens with a letter 15-year-old Ellen sends to the president of Harvard University, asking to be admitted early. society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > one who presides > over an institution or society 1664 B. Gerbier sig. d1 To the Right Honourable Lord Brunckhord, Viscount Iyons in Ireland, President of the Royal Society of Phylosophers Meeting at Gresham Colledg. 1667 T. Sprat 93 Their Chief Officer, is the President; to whom it belongs to call, and dissolve their meetings;..to regulate the Proceedings [etc.]. 1756 T. Birch I. 6 That the standing officers of the society be three, a president or director, a treasurer, and a register. 1780 (1782) 15 Mar. They [sc. the American Philosophical Society] shall have the following officers..one president, three vice-presidents, four secretaries [etc.]. 1842 iii The Council..shall consist of the President, the Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, 1 or 2 Honorary Secretaries, and twenty ordinary members. 1872 12 Mar. 11/6 He [sc. Dr. Goldstücker] was president of the Philological Society, and well known in many of the literary societies of London. 1902 8 Aug. §5 There shall be a President and a Council of the Academy. The President and the Council shall be elected by the Fellows from amongst their own number. 1939 W. A. Robson iii. iv. 348 Such politically irresponsible persons as the president of the Law Society, the president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and the chairman of the Committee of London Clearing Bankers. 1996 July–Aug. 14/5 The man behind this triumph of deconstructivism, in fact, is none other than the President of the Royal Academy, Philip Dowson. society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > non-manual worker > businessman > [noun] > chairperson or manager 1762 74 The several opulent Companies, which have been, from time to time, established at Copenhagen, every one of which has its own president, directors, and other officers. 1781 31 Dec. [To] be a corporation..by the name and stile of ‘The President, Directors and Company of the Bank of North America’. 1798 1 Mar. The Massachusetts Mutual Fire Insurance Company..shall have power to choose a President..and fifteen Directors. 1808 VIII. 245 President of the South Carolina Homespun Company. 1830 12 Mar. The said directors [of the Massachusetts Rail-road Corporation] shall elect one of their number to be president of the board, who shall also be president of the corporation. 1883 E. A. Freeman xii. 192 In England..we never, I think, give it [sc. the title] to the head of a purely commercial body. But in America we find the President of a railroad and the President of a bank—that is, what we should call by the simpler name of Chairman. 1902 964 The directors [of manufacturing corporations] shall choose one of their number as president. 1949 12 July 13/7 H. D. Ivey, president of the Citizens National Trust & Savings Bank.., yesterday completed his twentieth year as president of Citizens National. 1992 11 May a9/5 Poverty reduction is the institution's overarching objective, bank president Lewis Preston..wrote in an introduction. society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > priest > kinds of priest > [noun] > celebrating mass 1867 M. Dods et al. tr. 63 There is brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water. (Note) This expression may quite legitimately be translated ‘to that one of the brethren who was presiding’.] 1945 G. Dix v. 111 Justin says:..‘Then the bread is “offered” to the president and a cup of water mingled with wine.’ 1971 (Alternative Services Series 3) 30 The Breaking of the Bread. The president breaks the consecrated bread, saying [etc.]. 1977 Aug. 17/2 The building now consecrated, the Eucharist began, with the Bishop of Oxford as president, and the Bishop of Reading, the Archdeacon of Berkshire, the Vicar and the Curate..as concelebrants. society > leisure > sport > judging or umpiring > [noun] > umpire or referee 1961 F. C. Avis 285/2 President, the senior judge in a group, as required at international show jumping competitions. 1976 13 Mar. 36/6 Too few countries trouble to train presidents—officials who take charge of bouts. 1994 (Nexis) 10 Jan. 2 The thrust of Julia Bracewell's remark was not lost on Paul Hoenigmann, the referee or ‘president’ as they say in the normally refined world of fencing. 3. society > law > administration of justice > one who administers justice > judge > [noun] > judges with other specific jurisdiction society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > council of state > [noun] > head of council of state society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > government minister > [noun] > head of government department 1491 (1814) II. 225/1 That for the eschewing of slauchter..be complant maid to oure souerane lord his chancellare or justice that the chancellare or presedent beand for the tyme with the avise of the consale or justice with avise of his assissouris sall [etc.]. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. lxxxvj Fridericke Palatyne, presydent of the counsell imperiall. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie (1888) I. 126 Ouer the Senat is set a præsident of the Ecclesiastical number, quha obteines the first place to giue out his sentence & to speik his opinione. 1645 J. Milton Sonnet x, in 51 Daughter to that good Earl, once President Of Englands Counsel, and her Treasury. 1669 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. J. Albert de Mandelslo 19 in (ed. 2) I..found company..at the Dutch Presidents, who had his Family there. 1776 J. Adams in J. Adams & A. Adams (1876) 189 The Congress..have established a board of war and ordnance and made me President of it. 1846 H. H. Wilson II. v. 203 The President of the Board of Control, Mr. Canning. 1863 H. Cox 653 In that year [sc. 1839]..the Crown appointed the new Board of Education, consisting of the Lord President and certain other privy councillors. 1905 343 Court of Session—Lord President of the whole Court, Right Hon. Lord Kinross. 1963 P. G. Richards 101 A committee consisting of the Speaker of the Commons (chairman), the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Lord Chief Justice and the President of the Court of Session. 1997 Sept. 37/1 She doesn't appear to be at all comfortable with her title of President of the Board of Trade. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > governor of province, dependency, or colony > governors by country > [noun] > in American colonies 1608 J. Smith sig. A4v The President and Captaine Gosnold, with the rest of the Counsell, being for the moste part discontented with one another. 1654 in (1859) II. 442 [Documt. signed] Roger Williams of Prouidence Colony Presidt. 1681 in (1902) V. 168 By Advice of ye Honered President of this Provence [sc. Maine]. 1732 King George II Charter of Georgia in Poore (1877) I. 371 And our will and pleasure is, that the first president of the said corporation is and shall be our trusty and well-beloved, the said Lord John Viscount Percival. 1776 10 The supreme executive power shall be vested in a president and council. [‘Governor’ adopted 1790.] 1787 B. Franklin 15 Apr. in (1906) IX. 559 Having served one year as President of Council. c1796 T. Twining (1894) 34 Mr. Bingham, the President of the Pennsylvanian State. a1817 T. Dwight (1821) II. 154 His Excellency Josiah Bartlett, some years since President of this State [sc. New-Hampshire]. 1894 32 48 During a long life he [sc. Benjamin Franklin] never forgot the fact that he was a printer first, and Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of France afterward; and still later President of the State of Pennsylvania. 1953 97 575/2 The person for whom he showed such esteem was Thomas Mifflin, who had been..president of the State of Pennsylvania (1788-1790). 1975 36 560 Having been elected president of the State of Pennsylvania, he [sc. Benjamin Franklin] was able to accelerate the adoption by the Assembly of several measures. 2001 Sept. 315/1 He was also president of the council for the Massachusetts Bay Colony and a colonel in the militia. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > head of government > [noun] > in a republic society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > head of government > [noun] > in a republic > in U.S. 1782 6 Nov. 3/1 On Monday last the Hon. Elias Boudinot, Esq; was elected President of the United States in Congress assembled.] 1784 3 Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary..shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by him. 1789 ii. §1 The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years. 1789 J. May 29 Apr. (1873) (modernized text) 121 His Excellency the President [sc. George Washington] is to be sworn into office. 1839 XV. 165/1 (Mexico) The executive power is vested in a president and vice-president, both elected by the state legislatures for a term of four years. 1840 XXI. 47/2 The [Swiss] diet meets for two successive years by turns, at the capital..of Lucerne, Zürich, and Berne, the burgomaster or avoyer of which acts as president for the turn, with the title of Landmann.] 1863 N. Hawthorne II. 265 In consequence of our proud prerogative of caring no more about our President than for a man of straw. 1888 J. Bryce I. xxv. 395 Only four years after the power of the executive had reached its highest point in the hands of President Lincoln, it was reduced to its lowest point in those of President Johnson. 1903 25 Nov. 9/6 These officers have come on an official mission to the King, in order to salute his Majesty in the name of his Excellency the President of the Republic of Brazil. 1937 13 Sept. 87/2 (caption) On the President's front porch for the parade were, from left: Secretary of State Simpson, President Barclay and U.S. Minister Lester H. Walton, able mulatto newspaperman from Manhattan. 1976 30 June 1/4 President Amin was reported by Uganda Radio to have said that there are more than 100 Israeli hostages. 2004 (National ed.) 26 Jan. a18/4 By the time the political roadshow winds its way to Florida in March, avid C-Span viewers will have heard Mr. Kerry challenge President Bush to ‘bring it on’, hundreds of times. 5. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from mixed fibres > [noun] > cotton and wool 1860 S. Jubb 51 Some of the heavier makes in this cloth have passed current under the names of ‘Moscows’ and ‘Presidents’. 1886 18 Oct. 2/4 Large orders are still being placed for cheap tweeds, meltons, and low worsteds and presidents at the advanced rates lately obtained. 1894 7 May 13/2 For other kinds of woollens suitable for the fall trade such as pilots, presidents, and reversibles, there is a scarcity of orders. 1909 J. M. Matthews 307 Ladies' Cloths, Presidents, Whitneys, Moscows, Beavers, Worsted Coatings, etc. The only important requirement is sufficient fastness to light, water, rubbing, and hot pressing. 1890 President, a kind of damask of silk, or silk and wool, used for upholstery. Compounds1773 W. Cole Let. 24 Apr. in H. Walpole (1937) I. 308 The President-Dean, though unknown to me, did me the honour to come and introduce himself to me. 1822 21 Dec. 2/1 Moses Levy, Esq. has been appointed by the Governor to be the President Judge of the District Court of Philadelphia, in place of Jared Ingersoll, Esq. deceased. 1895 4 July 7/1 The annual convention of the European section of the Theosophical Society.., under the presidency of Colonel H. S. Olcott, the President-Founder. 1905 4 Oct. 4/6 Prince George of Denmark was elected to the throne of Greece..and on the whole he has been a popular Monarch of a democratic community—a ‘President-King’. 1948 5 July 21/1 John L. Lewis..used to fancy himself as a President-maker and still does as a President-breaker. 1980 18 474 The major themes in the Region were..maintenance of roads and bridges, neatness of the villages, maintaining a militant spirit, and, above all, support and attachment to the President-Founder. C2. 1719 III. 709/2 Mr. Hough, President Elect, was presented to the Visitor by Mr. Maynard. 1837 22 Mar. 3/2 There is a story going the rounds in relation to the president-elect. 1991 2 Mar. 542/1 Dr Leon Lederman, a Nobel laureate in physics and president-elect of the 135,000-member American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS), was speaking at the National Academy of Sciences. 1659 R. Baxter Table of Contents Disputation 3..Chap. 4. It is lawful for the Presbyters of a particular Church to have a fixed President for life. 1797 tr. F. Pagès I. Introd. p. xxii These are for an upper house of legislation and the English constitution, those for an executive power with a president for life. 1852 S. S. Cox viii. 83 Louis Napoleon may be made Emperor, or (so called) President for life. 1948 J. B. Trend 259 To the mind of the Liberator there was considerable difference between a president-for-life and a king or an emperor; but less subtle minds were unable to see this. 2000 D. Adebayo (2001) iv. 83 He would stride out in his dictator's outfit..and declare in his cod old country growl: ‘After free and fair elections, I have decided to become President-For-Life!’ society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > one who presides > over a body of persons or their meetings > chief society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > governor of province, dependency, or colony > governors by country > [noun] > in American colonies 1574 J. Studley tr. J. Bale i. f. 112v Cyrillus a Grecian the thirde president general of yee white fryers dyed by report. a1661 T. Fuller (1662) 217 Robert Ivory was, saith Leland, none of the meanest Natives of this City, a Carmelite and President General of his Order, D. D. in Cambridge. 1722 J. Stevens I. 183/2 The Congregation..is govern'd by a President General, and by three Diffinitors, who are chosen every three Years. 1809 J. Adams (1854) IX. 620 At the meeting of the Cincinnati at New York, when they choose Hamilton their President-General. 1989 Apr. 373/1 Mrs. Raymond Franklin Fleck, President General presented First Lady Barbara Bush with a special DAR certificate. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † presidentadj.Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymons: Latin praesident-, praesidēns. Etymology: < classical Latin praesident-, praesidēns, present participle of praesidēre preside v. Compare Old Occitan prezident (14th cent.). Compare earlier president n. Obsolete. society > authority > control > [adjective] > presiding a1450 (Vesp.) (1902) 1362 (MED) It ordand es, Þat a president subpriores Sal non be chosin for no chanch Bot by þe priores puruyanch. c1450 ( J. Walton tr. Boethius (Linc. Cathedral 103) 104 (MED) Why [be] holde ȝe noght To þe wiche þinges ȝe been president [L. præsidere videamini], As where-vpon ȝoure power is extent? 1588 J. Udall x. 46 That there should be one byshop or pastor (at the least) president ouer euery congregation. 1589 in R. Hakluyt i. 106 The state of Venice..keepe there their Agent, president ouer their merchants. a1620 M. Fotherby (1622) i. xv. §4. 159 Not onely present with them, but also president among them. 1664 H. More 270 Mars the President-Dæmon of the Roman Polity. 1671 J. Milton i. 447 Whence hast thou then thy truth, But from him or his Angels President In every Province. View more context for this quotation 1699 J. Potter II. iii. vii. 73 Mercury the President God of their Occupation. 1755 C. Charke 85 I have observed Gratitude to be a Principle, that bears the smallest share in the Hearts of those where it ought to be most strongly President. 1775 S. Palmer I. 518 He thought also that one of these elders was, in the apostles time, primate and president among them for order sake. 1808 Z. M. Pike (1810) iii. 208 The village of St. John's,..the residence of the president priest of the province. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online December 2020). < n.a1382adj.a1450 |