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Definition of preside - 5 dictionary results

pre⋅side

  [pri-zahyd]
Use preside in a Sentence
–verb (used without object), -sid⋅ed, -sid⋅ing.
1. to occupy the place of authority or control, as in an assembly or meeting; act as president or chairperson.
2. to exercise management or control (usually fol. by over): The lawyer presided over the estate.
Origin:
1605–15; < L praesidēre to preside over, lit., sit in front of, equiv. to prae- pre- + -sidēre, comb. form of sedēre to sit

Related forms:
pre⋅sid⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To preside
pre·side   (prĭ-zīd')   
intr.v.   pre·sid·ed, pre·sid·ing, pre·sides
  1. To hold the position of authority; act as chairperson or president.
  2. To possess or exercise authority or control.
  3. Music To be the featured instrumental performer: presided at the keyboard.

[French présider, from Old French, from Latin praesidēre : prae-, pre- + sedēre, to sit; see sed- in Indo-European roots.]
pre·sid'er n.
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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Preside

Pre*side"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Presided; p. pr. & vb. n. Presiding.] [L. praesidere; prae before + sedere to sit: cf. F. pr['e]sider. See Sit.]

1. To be set, or to sit, in the place of authority; to occupy the place of president, chairman, moderator, director, etc.; to direct, control, and regulate, as chief officer; as, to preside at a public meeting; to preside over the senate.

2. To exercise superintendence; to watch over.

Some o'er the public magazines preside. --Dryden.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : preside
Spanish: presidir,
German: den Vorsitz haben,
Japanese: 司会する
More Translations »

preside 
1611, from Fr. présider "preside over, govern" (15c.), from L. præsidere "stand guard, superintend," lit. "sit in front of," from præ- "before" + sedere "to sit" (see sedentary).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: pre·side
Pronunciation: pri-'zId
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Forms: pre·sid·ed; pre·sid·ing
1 : to exercise guidance, direction, or control
2 : to occupy the place of authority : direct or regulate proceedings as chief officer
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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