Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pre·sent·ment       (prĭ-zěnt'mənt)  Pronunciation Key  n.   The act of presenting to view or to the mind. Something expressed, presented, or exhibited. The light in which something is presented. The act of submitting or presenting a formal statement of a legal matter to a court or an authorized person. The report written by a grand jury concerning an offense and based on the jury's own knowledge and observation. Law The act of submitting or presenting a formal statement of a legal matter to a court or an authorized person. The report written by a grand jury concerning an offense and based on the jury's own knowledge and observation. The act of presenting a bill or note for payment.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

presentment
noun
1.	an accusation of crime made by a grand jury on its own initiative
2.	a document that must be accepted and paid by another person
3.	a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view; "the presentation of new data"; "he gave the customer a demonstration" [syn: presentation]

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: pre·sent·ment
Pronunciation: pri-'zent-m&nt
Function: noun
1 : the act of presenting to an authority a formal statement of a matter to be dealt with; specifically : the notice or accusation of an offense by a grand jury on the initiative of the jury members or on the basis of their own knowledge without a bill of indictment laid before them
2 : the act of producing or offering at the proper place and time a document (as a negotiable instrument) that calls for acceptance and payment by another : a demand for payment of an instrument upon a party liable for payment on behalf of the holder

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Presentment

Pre*sent"ment\, n. 1. The act of presenting, or the state of being presented; presentation. " Upon the heels of my presentment." --Shak.

2. Setting forth to view; delineation; appearance; representation; exhibition.

Power to cheat the eye with blear illusion, And give it false presentment. --Milton.

3. (Law) (a) The notice taken by a grand jury of any offence from their own knowledge or observation, without any bill of indictment laid before them, as, the presentment of a nuisance, a libel, or the like; also, an inquisition of office and indictment by a grand jury; an official accusation presented to a tribunal by the grand jury in an indictment, or the act of offering an indictment; also, the indictment itself. (b) The official notice (formerly required to be given in court) of the surrender of a copyhold estate. --Blackstone.

Presentment of a bill of exchange, the offering of a bill to the drawee for acceptance, or to the acceptor for payment. See Bill of exchange, under Bill. --Mozley & W.