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Definition of precinct - 3 dictionary results

pre⋅cinct

  [pree-singkt]
Use precinct in a Sentence
–noun
1. a district, as of a city, marked out for governmental or administrative purposes, or for police protection.
2. Also called precinct house. the police station in such a district.
3. Also called election district. one of a fixed number of districts, each containing one polling place, into which a city, town, etc., is divided for voting purposes.
4. a space or place of definite or understood limits.
5. Often, precincts. an enclosing boundary or limit.
6. precincts, the parts or regions immediately surrounding a place; environs: the precincts of a town.
7. Chiefly British. the ground immediately surrounding a church, temple, or the like.
8. a walled or otherwise bounded or limited space within which a building or place is situated.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML praecinctum, n. use of neut. of L praecinctus, ptp. of praecingere to gird about, surround, equiv. to prae- pre- + cing- (s. of cingere to surround; cf. cinch 1 ) + -tus ptp. suffix

Synonyms:
1. ward. 4. territory. 8. compound.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To precinct
pre·cinct   (prē'sĭngkt')   
n.  

    1. A subdivision or district of a city or town under the jurisdiction of or patrolled by a specific unit of its police force.

    2. The police station situated in and having jurisdiction over such a district.

    3. A place or enclosure marked off by definite limits, such as walls. Often used in the plural: the mysterious precincts of the old monastery.

    4. A boundary: Hunting is not allowed within the precincts of the estate.

  2. An election district of a city or town.

    1. A place or enclosure marked off by definite limits, such as walls. Often used in the plural: the mysterious precincts of the old monastery.

    2. A boundary: Hunting is not allowed within the precincts of the estate.

  4. precincts The neighborhood or surrounding area; the environs.

  5. An area of thought or action; a province or domain. Often used in the plural: "It was in these spacious precincts that Dryden's imagination was most at home" (Mark Van Doren).


[Middle English precincte, a defined district or area, from Medieval Latin praecīnctum, from Latin, neuter past participle of praecingere, to encircle : prae-, pre- + cingere, to gird; see kenk- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

precinct 
1432, "district defined for purposes of government or representation," from M.L. precinctum "enclosure, boundary line," prop. neut. pp. of L. præcingere "to gird about, surround," from præ- "before" + cingere "to surround, encircle" (see cinch).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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