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preen

 [preen]   Example Sentences Origin

preen

1   [preen]
verb (used with object)
1.
(of animals, especially birds) to trim or dress (feathers, fur, etc.) with the beak or tongue: The peacock preened itself on the lawn.
2.
to dress (oneself) carefully or smartly; primp: The king preened himself in his elaborate ceremonial robes.
3.
to pride (oneself) on an achievement, personal quality, etc.: He preened himself on having been graduated with honors.
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verb (used without object)
4.
to make oneself appear striking or smart in dress or appearance: No amount of careful preening will compensate for poor posture.
5.
to be exultant or proud.

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Preen is a GRE word you need to know.
So is peregrination. Does it mean:
traveling from place to place
pleasing personal appearance
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Origin:
1480–90; late Middle English prene, variant of Middle English prunen, proynen (see prune3), perhaps by association with prenen, to stab, pierce (v. use, now dial., of prene preen2), from the pricking action of a bird's beak in preening

Related forms
preen·er, noun
un·preened, adjective
Example Sentences
  • Preen deftly evoked couture's structure, in beige and pale pastels, without nostalgia.
  • In the interest of good neighbourliness, the church has taken care not to preen itself.
  • Many birds produce odors detectable to people, and mutually preen plumage, which could transmit information.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged

preen

2   [preen]
noun Chiefly British Dialect.
a pin or brooch.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English prene, Old English prēon a pin; cognate with Old Norse prjōnn pin; akin to Dutch priem, German Pfreim awl
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To preen
Collins
World English Dictionary
preen1 (priːn)
 
—vb
1.  (of birds) to maintain (feathers) in a healthy condition by arrangement, cleaning, and other contact with the bill
2.  to dress or array (oneself) carefully; primp
3.  (usually foll by on) to pride or congratulate (oneself)
 
[C14 preinen, probably from prunen to prune³, influenced by prenen to prick, pin (see preen²); suggestive of the pricking movement of the bird's beak]
 
'preener1
 
—n

preen2 (priːn)
 
—n
(Scot) a pin, esp a decorative one
 
[Old English prēon a pin; related to Middle High German pfrieme awl, Dutch priem bodkin]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

preen
"to trim, to dress up," late 14c., perhaps a variation of prune (v.), or from O.Fr. poroindre "anoint before," and O.Fr. proignier "round off, prune." O.E. preon meant "to pin," and probably influenced this word. Due to the popularity of falconry, Words for bird activities were formerly much more precise
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than today.
"Youre hawke proynith and not pikith and she prenyth not bot whan she begynnyth at hir leggys, and fetcheth moystour like oyle at hir taill." ["Book of St. Albans," 1486]
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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