Adjacent Words

Present definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PRES'ENT, a. s as z. [L. proesens; proe and sum, esse, to be.]
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, n. That which is presented or given; a gift; a donative; something given or offered to another gratuitously; a word of general application. Genesis 32.
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.
PRESENT', v.t. [Low L. proesento; L. proesens; proe, before, and sum, esse, to be.]
1. To set, place or introduce into the presence or before the face of a superior, as to present an envoy to the king; and with the reciprocal pronoun, to come into the presence of a superior.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord. Job 1.
2. To exhibit to view or notice. The top of Mount Holyoke, in Hampshire county, in Massachusetts, presents one of the finest prospects in America.
3. To offer; to exhibit.
O hear what to my mind first thoughts present.
He is ever ready to present to us the thoughts or observations of others.
4. To give; to offer gratuitously for reception. The first President of the American Bible Society, presented to that institution ten thousand dollars.
5. To put into the hands of another in ceremony.
So ladies in romance assist their knight,
Present the spear, and arm him for the fight.
6. To favor with a gift; as, we present a man with a suit of clothes. Formerly the phrase was, to present a person.
Octavia presented the poet, for his admirable elegy on her son Marcellus.
[This use is obsolete.]
7. 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.
8. To offer.
He--presented battle to the French navy, which was refused.
9. To lay before a public body for consideration, as before a legislature, a court of judicature, a corporation, etc.; as, to present a memorial, petition, remonstrance or indictment.
10. To lay before a court of judicature as an object of inquiry; to give notice officially of a crime or offense. It is the duty of grand juries to present all breaches of law within their knowledge. In America, grand juries present whatever they think to be public injuries, by notifying them to the public with their censure.
11. To point a weapon, particularly some species of fire-arms; as, to present a musket to the breast of another; in manual exercise, to present arms.
12. To indict; a customary use of the word in the United Stats.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: temporal sense; intermediate between past and future; now existing or happening or in consideration; "the present leader"; "articles for present use"; "the present topic"; "the present system"; "present observations" [ant: future, past]
2: being or existing in a specified place; "the murderer is present in this room"; "present at the wedding"; "present at the creation" [ant: absent] n
1: the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech; "that is enough for the present"; "he lives in the present with no thought of tomorrow" [syn: present, nowadays]
2: something presented as a gift; "his tie was a present from his wife"
3: a verb tense that expresses actions or states at the time of speaking [syn: present, present tense] v
1: give an exhibition of to an interested audience; "She shows her dogs frequently"; "We will demo the new software in Washington" [syn: show, demo, exhibit, present, demonstrate]
2: bring forward and present to the mind; "We presented the arguments to him"; "We cannot represent this knowledge to our formal reason" [syn: present, represent, lay out]
3: perform (a play), especially on a stage; "we are going to stage `Othello'" [syn: stage, present, represent]
4: hand over formally [syn: present, submit]
5: introduce; "This poses an interesting question" [syn: present, pose]
6: give, especially as an honor or reward; "bestow honors and prizes at graduation" [syn: award, present]
7: give as a present; make a gift of; "What will you give her for her birthday?" [syn: give, gift, present]
8: deliver (a speech, oration, or idea); "The commencement speaker presented a forceful speech that impressed the students" [syn: deliver, present]
9: cause to come to know personally; "permit me to acquaint you with my son"; "introduce the new neighbors to the community" [syn: introduce, present, acquaint]
10: represent abstractly, for example in a painting, drawing, or sculpture; "The father is portrayed as a good-looking man in this painting" [syn: portray, present]
11: present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize; "We confronted him with the evidence"; "He was faced with all the evidence and could no longer deny his actions"; "An enormous dilemma faces us" [syn: confront, face, present]
12: formally present a debutante, a representative of a country, etc.
13: recognize with a gesture prescribed by a military regulation; assume a prescribed position; "When the officers show up, the soldiers have to salute" [syn: salute, present]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from presenter Date: 13th century something presented ; gift II. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French presenter, from Latin praesentare, from praesent-, praesens, adjective Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. (1) to bring or introduce into the presence of someone especially of superior rank or status (2) to introduce socially b. to bring (as a play) before the public 2. to make a gift to 3. to give or bestow formally 4. a. to lay (as a charge) before a court as an object of inquiry b. to bring a formal public charge, indictment, or presentment against 5. to nominate to a benefice 6. a. to offer to view ; show b. to bring to one's attention <this presents a problem> 7. to act the part of ; perform 8. to aim, point, or direct (as a weapon) so as to face something or in a particular direction intransitive verb 1. to present a weapon 2. to become manifest 3. to come forward as a patient 4. to make a presentation Synonyms: see give • presenter noun III. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praesent-, praesens, from present participle of praeesse to be before one, from prae- pre- + esse to be — more at is Date: 14th century 1. now existing or in progress 2. a. being in view or at hand b. existing in something mentioned or under consideration 3. constituting the one actually involved, at hand, or being considered 4. of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of present time or the time of speaking 5. obsolete attentive 6. archaic instant, immediate • presentness noun IV. noun Date: 14th century 1. a. obsolete present occasion or affair b. plural the present words or statements; specifically the legal instrument or other writing in which these words are used 2. a. the present tense of a language b. a verb form in the present tense 3. the present time

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. adj. & n. --adj. 1 (usu. predic.) being in the place in question (was present at the trial). 2 a now existing, occurring, or being such (the present Duke; during the present season). b now being considered or discussed etc. (in the present case). 3 Gram. expressing an action etc. now going on or habitually performed (present participle; present tense). --n. (prec. by the) 1 the time now passing (no time like the present). 2 Gram. the present tense. Phrases and idioms: at present now. by these presents Law by this document (know all men by these presents). for the present 1 just now. 2 as far as the present is concerned. present company excepted excluding those who are here now. present-day adj. of this time; modern. Etymology: ME f. OF f. L praesens -entis part. of praeesse be at hand (as PRAE-, esse be) 2. v. & n. --v.tr. 1 introduce, offer, or exhibit, esp. for public attention or consideration. 2 a (with a thing as object, foll. by to) offer or give as a gift (to a person), esp. formally or ceremonially. b (with a person as object, foll. by with) make available to; cause to have (presented them with a new car; that presents us with a problem). 3 a (of a company, producer, etc.) put (a form of entertainment) before the public. b (of a performer, compère, etc.) introduce or put before an audience . 4 introduce (a person) formally (may I present my fiancé?; was presented at court). 5 offer, give (compliments etc.) (may I present my card; present my regards to your family). 6 a (of a circumstance) reveal (some quality etc.) (this presents some difficulty). b exhibit (an appearance etc.) (presented a rough exterior). 7 (of an idea etc.) offer or suggest itself. 8 deliver (a cheque, bill, etc.) for acceptance or payment. 9 a (usu. foll. by at) aim (a weapon). b hold out (a weapon) in a position for aiming. 10 (refl. or absol.) Med. (of a patient or illness etc.) come forward for or undergo initial medical examination. 11 (absol.) Med. (of a part of a foetus) be directed toward the cervix at the time of delivery. 12 (foll. by to) Law bring formally under notice, submit (an offence, complaint, etc.). 13 (foll. by to) Eccl. recommend (a clergyman) to a bishop for institution to a benefice. --n. the position of presenting arms in salute. Phrases and idioms: present arms hold a rifle etc. vertically in front of the body as a salute. present oneself 1 appear. 2 come forward for examination etc. Derivatives: presenter n. (in sense 3 of v.). Etymology: ME f. OF presenter f. L praesentare (as PRESENT(1)) 3. n. a gift; a thing given or presented. Phrases and idioms: make a present of give as a gift. Etymology: ME f. OF (as PRESENT(1)), orig. in phr. mettre une chose en present à quelqu'un put a thing into the presence of a person

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Present Pres"ent, a. [F. pr['e]sent, 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 --Shak. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Present Pres"ent, n. [Cf. F. pr['e]sent. See Present, a.] 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Present Pre*sent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presented; p. pr. & vb. n. Presenting.] [F. pr['e]senter, L. praesentare, fr. praesens, a. See Present, a.] 1. To bring or introduce into the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to introduce formally; to offer for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the king; (with the reciprocal pronoun) to come into the presence of a superior. Now 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 another. Pesent 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Present Pre*sent", v. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Present Pres"ent, n. [F. pr['e]sent .] Anything presented or given; a gift; a donative; as, a Christmas present. Syn: Gift; donation; donative; benefaction. See Gift.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Present Pre*sent", n. (Mil.) The position of a soldier in presenting arms; as, to stand at present.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

I. EXISTING OR HAPPENING NOW Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. You use present to describe things and people that exist now, rather than those that existed in the past or those that may exist in the future. He has brought much of the present crisis on himself... It has been skilfully renovated by the present owners... No statement can be made at the present time. = current ADJ: ADJ n 2. The present is the period of time that we are in now and the things that are happening now. ...his struggle to reconcile the past with the present. ...continuing right up to the present... Then her thoughts would switch to the present. N-SING: the N 3. In grammar, the present tenses of a verb are the ones that are used to talk about things that happen regularly or situations that exist at this time. The simple present tense uses the base form or the 's' form of a verb, as in 'I play tennis twice a week' and 'He works in a bank'. ADJ: ADJ n 4. A situation that exists at present exists now, although it may change. There is no way at present of predicting which individuals will develop the disease... At present children under 14 are not permitted in bars. PHRASE: PHR with cl/group 5. The present day is the period of history that we are in now. ...Western European art from the period of Giotto to the present day. = today PHRASE: prep PHR 6. Something that exists or will be done for the present exists now or will continue for a while, although the situation may change later. The ministers had expressed the unanimous view that sanctions should remain in place for the present. PHRASE: PHR with cl II. BEING SOMEWHERE Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If someone is present at an event, they are there. The president was not present at the meeting... Nearly 85 per cent of men are present at the birth of their children... The whole family was present. ? absent ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ at n 2. If something, especially a substance or disease, is present in something else, it exists within that thing. This special form of vitamin D is naturally present in breast milk... ? absent ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ in n III. GIFT (presents) A present is something that you give to someone, for example at Christmas or when you visit them. The carpet was a wedding present from the Prime Minister... I bought a birthday present for my mother... This book would make a great Christmas present. = gift N-COUNT IV. VERB USES (presents, presenting, presented) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you present someone with something such as a prize or document, or if you present it to them, you formally give it to them. The mayor presented him with a gold medal at an official city reception... Prince Michael of Kent presented the prizes... The group intended to present this petition to the parliament. VERB: V n with n, V n, V n to n • presentation Then came the presentation of the awards by the Queen Mother. N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n 2. If something presents a difficulty, challenge, or opportunity, it causes it or provides it. This presents a problem for many financial consumers... Public policy on the family presents liberals with a dilemma. VERB: V n, V n with n 3. If an opportunity or problem presents itself, it occurs, often when you do not expect it. Their colleagues insulted them whenever the opportunity presented itself... VERB: V pron-refl 4. When you present information, you give it to people in a formal way. We spend the time collating and presenting the information in a variety of chart forms... We presented three options to the unions for discussion... In effect, Parsons presents us with a beguilingly simple outline of social evolution. VERB: V n, V n to n, V n with n • presentation (presentations) ...a fair presentation of the facts to a jury... N-VAR: oft N of n 5. If you present someone or something in a particular way, you describe them in that way. The government has presented these changes as major reforms... In Europe, Aga Khan III presented himself in a completely different light. VERB: V n as n, V n in n 6. The way you present yourself is the way you speak and act when meeting new people. ...all those tricks which would help him to present himself in a more confident way in public. VERB: V pron-refl prep/adv 7. If someone or something presents a particular appearance or image, that is how they appear or try to appear. The small group of onlookers presented a pathetic sight... In presenting a more professional image the party risks losing its individuality. ...presenting a calm and dignified face to the world at large. VERB: V n, V n, V n to n 8. If you present yourself somewhere, you officially arrive there, for example for an appointment. She was told to present herself at the Town Hall at 11.30 for the induction ceremony... VERB: V pron-refl prep/adv 9. If someone presents a programme on television or radio, they introduce each item in it. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use host, introduce) She presents a monthly magazine programme on the BBC. VERB: V n 10. When someone presents something such as a production of a play or an exhibition, they organize it. The Lyric Theatre is presenting a new production of 'Over the Bridge'. VERB: V n 11. If you present someone to someone else, often an important person, you formally introduce them. Fox stepped forward, welcomed him in Malay, and presented him to Jack... Allow me to present my wife's cousin, Mr Zachary Colenso. = introduce VERB: V n to n, V n 12. see also presentation

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

prez'-ent.

See GIFT.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. a. 1. At hand, not absent, near, not away. 2. Instant, current, existing, not past nor future. 3. Quick in emergencies, ready, at hand. 4. Instant, immediate. 5. Propitious, attentive, favorable. 6. Favorably attentive, not heedless, propitious. II. n. Gift, donation, donative, benefaction, offering, gratuity, largess, boon, grant, douceur. III. v. a. 1. Introduce, make known. 2. Exhibit, offer, bring to notice, set forth. 3. Give, bestow, confer, grant. 4. Hand, put into one's hands, deliver, make over. 5. Proffer, offer openly. 6. Point, level, aim.

Moby Thesaurus

Christmas present, accessible, accommodate, accord, acquaint, actual, adduce, adjacent, administer, advance, affect, afford, affront, aid, aim, aim at, allege, allot, allow, allowance, alms, announce, aorist, array, articulate, as is, at hand, at present, attendant, available, award, baksheesh, be a gas, be a hit, being, bend, benevolence, bestow, bestow on, betoken, bill, birthday present, bomb, bonus, boon, bounty, box, brandish, brave, breast, breathe, bring before, bring forth, bring forward, bring in, bring into view, bring on, bring out, bring to bear, bring to notice, bring up, cadeau, challenge, chime, chorus, chronology, close, closest, clothe, come out with, communicate, compliment, conceive, confer, confront, confront with, contemporaneous, contemporary, continuity, contribute, contribution, convey, couch, couch in terms, current, dangle, dare, deal, deal out, defy, deliver, demonstrate, deploy, determine, develop, devote, direct, directionize, disclose, dish out, dispense, display, distribute, divulge, do the honors, dole, dole out, donate, donation, dramatize, duration, durative, duree, embody, embody in words, emcee, emit, enact, encounter, endow, endowment, enunciate, envisage, evidence, evince, exhibit, existent, existing, expose to view, express, extant, extend, face, face with, fail, fairing, favor, feature, file, fill, fill up, find, fix, fix on, flaunt, fling off, flop, flourish, fork out, formularize, formulate, frame, freeload, fresh, front, fund, furnish, future, future perfect, gift, gift with, give, give a knockdown, give an introduction, give away, give expression, give expression to, give freely, give out, give out with, give sign, give token, give tongue, give utterance, give voice, give words to, grant, gratuity, hand, hand out, hand over, hand-out, handsel, headline, heap, help to, here and now, highlight, historical present, hold forth, hold on, hold out, illuminate, immanent, immediate, impart, imperfect, in being, in effect, in existence, in force, in view, incarnate, indicate, indwelling, inherent, instant, introduce, invest, issue, just now, keep, largess, largesse, lastingness, latest, lavish, lay before, let have, let out, level at, lip, living, maintain, make a hit, make acquainted, make available, make clear, make known, make plain, make provision for, manifest, marshal, materialize, mean, meet, meet squarely, melodramatize, mete, mete out, modern, mount, nearby, nearest, new, newfashioned, now, nowadays, oblation, offer, offering, on board, on deck, on foot, on hand, open, open a show, our times, out with, parade, paragraph, pass out, past, past perfect, peace offering, perfect, perform, period, phonate, phrase, place before, plead, pluperfect, point, point at, point tense, point to, pour, pour forth, pourboire, prefer, premiere, prepare, present perfect, present to, present-age, present-day, present-time, presentation, presently, preterit, prevalent, preview, produce, proffer, progressive tense, pronounce, provide, provide for, proximate, psychological time, put, put forth, put forward, put in words, put it to, put on, put to choice, put to vote, put up, quaint, rain, raise, rally, record, recruit, register, remaining, render, replenish, represent, reveal, rhetorize, right now, roll out, running, say, scenarize, serve, set, set before, set forth, set out, set the stage, shell out, show, show forth, shower, sight on, slip, snow, sound, space, space-time, sponge, spotlight, stage, star, state, stem, stock, store, style, submit, subsidize, subsistent, subsisting, succeed, supply, support, tell, tender, tense, term, that be, that is, the future, the nonce, the past, the present, the time being, theatricalize, these days, throw off, tide, time, timebinding, tip, today, token, topical, train, train upon, tribute, trot out, try out, turn, turn over, turn upon, under the sun, unfold, up-to-date, up-to-the-minute, utter, verbalize, vocalize, voice, vouchsafe, wave, while, whisper, white elephant, within call, within reach, within sight, word, yield