pre-erect

adjective

upright in position or posture: to stand or sit erect.

raised or directed upward: a dog with ears erect.

Botany. vertical throughout; not spreading or declined: an erect stem; an erect leaf or ovule.

Heraldry.

(of a charge) represented palewise: a sword erect.

(of an animal or part of an animal) represented upright: a boar's head erect.

Optics. (of an image) having the same position as the object; not inverted.

verb (used with object)

to build; construct; raise: to erect a house.

to raise and set in an upright or vertical position: to erect a telegraph pole.

to set up or establish, as an institution; found.

to bring about; cause to come into existence: to erect barriers to progress.

10.

Geometry. to draw or construct (a line or figure) upon a given line, base, or the like.

11.

to form or create legally (usually followed by into ): to erect a territory into a state.

12.

Optics. to change (an inverted image) to the normal position.

13.

Machinery. to assemble; make ready for use.

00:10

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a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

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verb (used without object)

14.

to become erect; stand up or out.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin ērēctus raised up (past participle of ērigere), equivalent to ē- e-¹ + reg- guide, direct (see royal) + -tus past participle suffix

Related forms

e·rect·a·ble, adjective

e·rect·ly, adverb

e·rect·ness, noun

non·e·rect·ing, adjective

pre·e·rect, verb (used with object)

re·e·rect, verb (used with object)

self-e·rect·ed, adjective

sem·i·e·rect, adjective

sem·i·e·rect·ly, adverb

sem·i·e·rect·ness, noun

sub·e·rect, adjective

sub·e·rect·ly, adverb

sub·e·rect·ness, noun

un·e·rect, adjective

un·e·rect·ed, adjective

well-e·rect·ed, adjective

Synonyms
1. standing, vertical. See upright. 6. upraise.

Antonyms
1. reclining.

Link To pre-erect

Collins

World English Dictionary

erect (ɪˈrɛkt)

—*adj*
1.	upright in posture or position; not bent or leaning: an erect stance
2.	(of an optical image) having the same orientation as the object; not inverted
3.	physiol (of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) firm or rigid after swelling with blood, esp as a result of sexual excitement
4.	(of plant parts) growing vertically or at right angles to the parts from which they arise

—vb
5.	to put up; construct; build
6.	to raise to an upright position; lift up: to erect a flagpole
7.	to found or form; set up
8.	(also intr) physiol to become or cause to become firm or rigid by filling with blood
9.	to hold up as an ideal; exalt
10.	optics to change (an inverted image) to an upright position
11.	to draw or construct (a line, figure, etc) on a given line or figure, esp at right angles to it

[C14: from Latin ērigere to set up, from regere to control, govern]

e'rectable

—*adj*

e'rectly

—*adv*

e'rectness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

erect

late 14c., from L. erectus "upright," pp. of erigere "raise or set up," from e- "up" + regere "to direct, keep straight, guide" (see regal). Related: Erected; erecting.

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

erect e·rect (ĭ-rěkt')
adj.

Being in or having a vertical, upright position.
Being in or having a stiff, rigid physiological condition.

Matching Quote

"Though of erect nature, man is far above the plants. For man's superior part, his head, is turned toward the superior part of the world, and his inferior part is turned toward the inferior world; and therefore he is perfectly disposed as to the general situation of his body. Plants have the superior part turned towards the lower world, since their roots correspond to the mouth, and their inferior parts towards the upper world."

-Thomas Aquinas

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