noun, plural pre·sid·i·ums, pre·sid·i·a /-ˈsɪdiə/Show Spelled[-sid-ee-uh]Show IPA.(often initial capital letter)
(in the Soviet Union and other Communist countries) an administrative committee, usually permanent and governmental, acting when its parent body is in recess but exercising full powers: the presidium of the Supreme Soviet.
Origin: 1815–25; < Latin prae-sidium, derivative of praes(es) (stem praesid-) guardian, governor, literally, one sitting before. See preside, -ium
permanent administrative committee of the U.S.S.R., 1924, from Rus. prezidium, from L. præsidium "a presiding over, defense," from præsidere (see preside).