Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Middle French prest (French prêt ) action of putting a thing at a person's disposal, action of lending, a thing lent, an advance of money (all second half of the 12th cent. in Old French), money allocated in advance to soldiers and non-commissioned officers for petty expenses (c1330), wages paid in advance (beginning of the 15th cent. or earlier; apparently rare before the late 19th cent.), in Anglo-Norman also alms, a gift (beginning of the 14th cent. or earlier) < prester prest v.¹ Compare post-classical Latin praestum (1086, c1150, 1419 in British sources), Old Occitan prest (early 13th cent.; a1173 in a prest on loan), Catalan †prest (1265; now préstec (late 13th cent. as †préstech)), Italian presto (a1342; now archaic; the usual word is prestito: see note), all in sense ‘loan’ (in Old Occitan also denoting a kind of tax).With in prest at Phrases compare Middle French en prest (c1370 or earlier). The usual post-classical Latin word used in British documents is prestitum loan (end of the 4th cent.; also praestitum ), use as noun of neuter past participle of classical Latin praestāre prest v.¹ Compare Italian prestito act of lending (1554; 1385 in uncertain sense as prestedo), money lent (1866).

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French prest (French prêt , †prest ) (adjective) (of a thing) ready, prepared (c1050), (of a person) ready (to do something), disposed, willing (c1100), alert, agile, nimble (c1180) < post-classical Latin praestus ready (Vetus Latina), an analogous formation (after e.g. citus swift (see citigrade n.) beside citō swiftly) < classical Latin praestō (adverb; also praestū : see note) near at hand, in readiness, at one's service (frequently in praestō esse to be ready), of uncertain origin, although probably related to praestāre to present, show, to offer, furnish, supply (see prest v.¹); thus the first element probably represents prae- pre- prefix, and the ending represents -ō, suffix forming adverbs. With the use as adverb compare Anglo-Norman prest (adverb) ready to hand, quickly, near (c1180 or earlier); this is apparently not paralleled in continental French until later (1611 in Cotgrave).Compare Old Occitan prest (12th cent. as adjective, 15th cent. as adverb; Occitan prèst ), Catalan prest (early 14th cent. as adjective, 15th cent. as adverb), Spanish presto (1207 as adjective, 1293 as adverb; now literary), Portuguese presto (14th cent. as adjective, 15th cent. as adverb), Italian presto (13th cent. as adverb, c1300 as adjective: see presto adv., n., adj., and int.). The classical Latin form praestū represents an alteration of praestō , after e.g. in promptū impromptu adv. In quot. a1382 at sense A. 3 after classical Latin in promptū in full view, in a prominent position (see impromptu adv.); this sense is not paralleled in French.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Middle French prester (French prêter ) to lend (c1180 in Old French; earlier in sense ‘to put (a thing) at a person's disposal’ (c1140 in Anglo-Norman)) < classical Latin praestāre to present, show, to offer, furnish, supply, to vouch for, take responsibility for, in post-classical Latin also to lend (5th cent.) < prae- pre- prefix + a second element of uncertain origin (the word is distinct from praestāre to excel: see prestance n.). With sense 2 compare Old French (Flanders) prester to pay for (goods) in advance (late 13th cent.). Compare earlier prest n.Compare Old Occitan, Occitan prestar (late 12th cent.), Catalan prestar (first half of the 13th cent.), Spanish prestar (mid 12th cent.), Italian prestare (1211), Portuguese prestar (13th cent.; beginning of the 12th cent. as †prestare).

Etymology: Probably < prest n. Compare later press v.², imprest v.², and perhaps earlier prest v.¹

Etymology: Probably < prest adj.