Adjacent Words

Prefect definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PRE'FECT, n. [L. proefectus; proe, before,and factus, made; but directly from proeficior, proefectus.]
1. In ancient Rome, a chief magistrate who governed a city or province in the absence of the king, consuls or emperor.
2. A governor, commander, chief magistrate or superintendent.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a chief officer or chief magistrate; "the prefect of Paris police"

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praefectus, from past participle of praeficere to place at the head of, from prae- + facere to make — more at do Date: 14th century 1. any of various high officials or magistrates of differing functions and ranks in ancient Rome 2. a chief officer or chief magistrate 3. a student monitor in a usually private school

Britannica Concise

In ancient Rome, any of various high officials primarily with judicial and administrative responsibilities. In the early republic, a prefect of the city (praefectus urbi) took over the consuls' duties during their absence from Rome. They lost some importance after the introduction of praetors (mid-4th cent. BC). Augustus revitalized the office when he appointed five prefects to supervise the city government, the fire brigade, the grain supply, and the Praetorian Guard. The praetorian prefects acquired great power and often became virtual prime ministers.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 the chief administrative officer of certain departments, esp. in France. 2 esp. Brit. a senior pupil in a school etc. authorized to enforce discipline. 3 Rom. Antiq. a senior magistrate or military commander. Derivatives: prefectoral adj. prefectorial adj. Etymology: ME f. OF f. L praefectus past part. of praeficere set in authority over (as PRAE-, facere make)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Prefect Pre"fect, n. [L. praefectus, fr. praefectus, p. p. of praeficere to set over; prae before + facere to make: cf. F. pr['e]fet.] 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(prefects) 1. In some schools, especially in Britain, a prefect is an older pupil who does special duties and helps the teachers to control the younger pupils. N-COUNT 2. In some countries, a prefect is the head of the local government administration or of a local government department. ...the police prefect for the district of Mehedinti. N-COUNT

Moby Thesaurus

apprentice teacher, archon, auditor, autodidact, chancellor, chief executive, chief executive officer, dean, educatee, executive, executive director, executive officer, executive secretary, graduate assistant, inquirer, intern, learner, magistrate, management, managing director, monitor, officer, official, paraprofessional, practice teacher, praepostor, president, prexy, proctor, provost, pupil, pupil teacher, scholar, secretary, self-taught person, student, student assistant, studier, teaching assistant, teaching fellow, teaching intern, the administration, trainee, treasurer, vice-chancellor, vice-president, warden