| 释义 |
▪ I. present, a. (adv.)|ˈprɛzənt|
Also 6 præsent.
[a. OF. present (11th c. in Littré), in mod.F. présent (see presence):—L. præsens, præsent-em present, immediate, prompt, properly pres. pple. of præesse to be before, to be at hand. In verse often stressed preˈsent down to c 1500.]
A. adj. An adjective of relation; expressing a local or temporal relation to a person or thing which is the point of reference.
I. Senses relating to place, etc.
1. a. Being before, beside, with, or in the same place as the person to whom the word has relation; being in the place considered or mentioned; that is here (or there). Chiefly in predicate. Opp. to absent a. 1. present company excepted (and varr.), phr. used to indicate that a generalization does not apply to the hearers of it; (to be) among those present: to be present (at a function, etc.); to be in the vicinity; (orig. used in reports of social gatherings, etc.; hence in jocular use).
1340Ayenb. 10 Huanne he þet me spekþ of ne is naȝt present. 1382Wyclif Deut. xxix. 15 Ne to ȝow alone..but to alle present & absent. c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 1769 (Lucrece) Ryght so thogh that hir forme were absent The plesaunce of hir forme was present. 1390Gower Conf. III. 288 Whanne he sih the king present, He preith he moste his dowhter have. a1425Cursor M. 10294 (Trin.) Into wildernes he went Þere as his fe was present. 1503Dunbar Thistle & Rose 85 All present wer in twynkling of ane e. 1552Abp. Hamilton Catech. (1884) 133 How is it possibil that the precious bodie and blude of our salviour Christ Jesus..may be really and corporally present in the sacrament of the Altar? Ibid. 207 That the verai body of our Lord is really and substancially present in the sacrament of the Eucharist. 1570T. Norton tr. Nowel's Catech. (1853) 165 What is presenter, what nearer, what closer joined than every man's soul to himself? 1611Shakes. Wint. T. ii. ii. 17, I must be present at your Conference. 1697Dryden Alexander's Feast ii, A present deity, they shout around; A present deity, the vaulted roofs rebound. 1784Cowper Task vi. 252 Whom..what he views of beautiful or grand In nature..Prompts with remembrance of a present God. 1793J. O'Keeffe London Hermit i. ii. 25 Sir, you should always except the present company. 1832Reg. Deb. Congress U.S. 14 June 3530 Mr. C[layton] observed that the gentleman ought to remember that the present company is always excepted. 1839Keightley Hist. Eng. II. 30 To be present at his burial. 1846Dickens Dombey (1848) iii. 20 There's a Tartar within a hundred miles of where we're now in conversation, I can tell you, Mrs. Richards, present company always excepted too. 1862Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. xiii. 258 We are present at the details of the ancient custom. a1909Mod. Were you present, when he made the statement? 1913F. L. Barclay Broken Halo vii. 92 ‘Present company excepted’ is always understood, without being expressed, when sweeping generalities are being made. 1925Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves! iv. 84, I hopped out of bed pretty early next morning, so as to be among those present when the old boy should arrive. 1947― Full Moon vi. 111 There had unquestionably been mosquitoes among those present. 1975G. Moffat Miss Pink iii. 54 Women never strike out for themselves... Present company excepted, of course.
b. Existing in the thing, class, or case mentioned or under consideration; not wanting; ‘found’. Opp. to absent a. 2.
1809–10Coleridge Friend (1865) 94 The reason is either lost or not lost, that is, wholly present or wholly absent. 1838T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 1003 If plants only emit oxygen gas by absorbing and decomposing carbonic acid gas,..unless carbonic acid gas be present, they can emit no oxygen gas. 1877Huxley Anat. Inv. Anim. 423 In the Hemiptera..wings may be present or absent.
c. present under arms (Mil.): see quot.
1829Sir W. Napier Penins. War viii. i. II. 266 His own British and German troops, about twenty-six thousand in number; of which the present under arms, including sergeants, amounted to twenty-two thousand. [Note] In the British army, when speaking of the number present under arms, the corporals and privates only are understood. In the French army, the present under arms includes every military person.
2. That is actually in hand, being dealt with, written, discussed, or considered: often used in a book or writing to denote that book or writing itself, or the writer himself. (Formerly this present (cf. OF. ceste present chartre); now usually the present is emphatic for ‘this’).
1382Wyclif 2 Pet. i. 12 And sotheli I wole ȝou wityng and confermid in present treuthe. c1450Godstow Reg. 349 And fro all maner of right and clayme therfro, they to be excluded for evermore by this present writyng. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 2, I beseche all the reders so to study this present treatyse, that [etc.]. 1592West 1st Pt. Symbol. §103 A, The said parties to these present Indentures. 1729Law Serious C. xix. 354 The much greater part of them, are not brought up so well..as in the present instance. 1872Morley Voltaire 295 One has some hesitation in adding Hume to the list in the present connection. 1895J. Addison in Law Times XCIX. 546/1 The entire subject..cannot be fully considered in such a paper as the present. Mod. The present writer has been unable to verify this.
3. Being before or in the mind or thought; of which one is conscious; directly thought of, remembered, or imagined. Usually const. to.
1500–20Dunbar Poems xc. 12 With all thi synnes into thi mynde present. 1634W. Tirwhyt tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. I.) 344 Though the half of France divide us, yet are you as present to my spirit, as the objects I see. 1741Watts Improv. Mind i. xvi. §3 The ample mind takes a survey of several objects.., keeps them all within sight and present to the soul. 1739Hume Hum. Nat. i. iii. (1874) I. 317 When any impression has been present with the mind, it again makes its appearance there as an idea. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 6 The legends of the place are present to the imagination throughout the discourse.
4. Having the mind or thought directed to, intent upon, or engaged with what one is about; attentive (opp. to absent a. 4); having presence of mind, collected, self-possessed (in this sense usually present to oneself); prompt to perceive or act, ready, quick. Now rare or Obs.
1451J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert (E.E.T.S.) 96 Now wex he absent to seculer þingis and more present to euerlasting desires. 1548Patten Exp. Scot. G vj, My lord Marshal & the other, with present mynde & courage, waerely and quikly continued their coorse towarde them [= the enemy]. 1554Hooper Let. in Foxe A. & M. (1583) 1513/2 Oure memorie..be not as present and quicke as theirs be. 1612T. Taylor Comm. Titus ii. 14 Shewing in all his answers a present mind and courage. 16..L'Estrange (J.), 'Tis a high point of philosophy and virtue for a man to be so present to himself, as to be always provided against all accidents. 1754Richardson Grandison III. xv. 114 You must be present to yourself, and put in a word now-and-then. 1864Lowell McClellan's Rep. Wks. 1890 V. 115 It is the faculty of being a present man, instead of a prospective one; of being ready, instead of getting ready.
5. a. Ready at hand, immediately accessible or available; esp. ready with assistance, ‘favourably attentive, not neglectful, propitious’ (J.). arch. (See also 9.)
1539Bible (Great) Ps. xlvi. 1 God is our hope & strength: a very present helpe in trouble. 1590Spenser F.Q. ii. i. 46 He oft finds present helpe, who does his griefe impart. 1611B. Jonson Catiline ii. Chorus, Be present to her now, as then. 1697Dryden Virg. Past. i. 59 Nor cou'd I hope in any place but there, To find a God so present to my Pray'r. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India II. iv. iv. 133 This sum, could it only be extorted from him, was a large and present resource.
†b. present money: money in hand or paid at the time, ready money. Obs.
1600E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 249 To whom they graunted many things, as titles,..rents for life, offices, and to some present money. 1671tr. Palafox's Conq. China vii. 138 They..in exchange thereof, receive present Money. 1721Berkeley Prev. Ruin Gt. Brit. Wks. 1871 III. 200 The temptation of a pistole present money never faileth.
II. Senses relating to time.
6. a. Existing at the time of speaking or writing; that is, or that is so, at this time or now; occurring or going on now, current, contemporary; in use or vogue at this time, modern. Opp. to past and future.
at (this) present writing: at the time of writing this, as I now write (? obs.).
a1300Cursor M. 3578 (Cott.) He [the old man] praises al thing þat es gon O present thing he praisses non. 1382Wyclif 1 Cor. iii. 22 Eithir thingis present, either thingis to comynge. 1466in Archæologia (1887) L. i. 50 Any other acte or ordynance made or to be made in this present parlement. 1535Coverdale Baruch i. 19 Sens the daye that he brought oure forefathers out of the londe of Egipte vnto this present daye. 1566Eng. Ch. Furniture (1866) 37 Imprimis the rood mary and Jhon with all other Images of papistry—brokin and defacid in this prissent yere. 1665Manley Grotius' Low C. Warres 764 If a remedy should be sought for present and future mischiefs. 1710Hearne Collect. 24 Feb. (O.H.S.) II. 348 Our present ambidexter Vice-Chancellour. 1751Harris Hermes Wks. (1841) 113 [To] help us to a juster estimate both of present men, and present literature. 1860Pusey Min. Proph. 44 All things, past, present, and to come, are present before God. 1889Gretton Memory's Harkb. 245 There were three candidates: the present Dean of Exeter..; the present Bishop of Winchester; and William Selwyn.
b. Actually existing, actual (as contrasted with something that may formerly have existed or in other circumstances might exist).
1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) II. 316 In the present state of nature, the means of safety are rather superior to those of offence. 1842A. Combe Physiol. Digestion (ed. 4) 98 On the present plan, there is ample food and enjoyment for all. Ibid., An immense class of animals, which, with their present constitution, could not otherwise have existed.
c. Comm. present value or worth of a sum due at a definite future date: that sum which, together with the compound interest upon it for the time from the present until that date, will amount to the sum then due.
1797J. Gray Arith. 56 As the amount of 100l. for the given rate and time: Is to 100:: So is the debt: To the present worth. 1831Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) III. 210/2 The present value of {pstlg}1 to be received certainly at the end of any assigned term, is such a sum less as, being improved at compound interest during the term, will just amount to one pound. 1868Mill Eng. & Irel. 36 What annual payment would be an equivalent..for the present value of whatever prospect there may be of an increase.
7. Gram. Applied to that tense of a verb which denotes an action now going on or a condition now existing (or one considered generally without limitation to any particular time). Opp. to past (or preterite) and future.
present imperfect: see quot. 1866, and imperfect a. 5. present perfect: a name for the tense denoting action that is completed at the present time (usually called simply perfect: see perfect a. 9 b).
1388Wyclif Prol. 57 A participle of a present tens, either preterit, of actif vois,..mai be resoluid into a verbe of the same tens, and a coniunccioun copulatif. 1530Palsgr. Introd. 31 His preterit participle and his present infynityve. 1581Fulke in Confer. ii. (1584) N iv b, But you did English it before, the doores being shut, which is the present tempus. 1669Milton Accedence Wks. 1851 VI. 448 The Present Tense speaketh of the time that now is, as laudo I praise. 1845Stoddart in Encycl. Metrop. (1847) I. 56/1 As absolute existence is naturally contemplated under the form of a time perpetually present, it is sufficient for us to consider this as one of the uses of the present tense. 1866Mason Eng. Gram. (ed. 7) §206 The Present Imperfect, showing that an action is going on at the present time; as, I am writing. 1904C. T. Onions Advanced Eng. Syntax §118 In the earlier period of Old English..the Past tense form had the meanings of the Past, Past Imperfect, Present Perfect, and Pluperfect of Latin.
8. Existing or in use at, or belonging to, the particular time under consideration; that was, or that was so, at that time or then. Now rare. (Cf. future A. 3.) † near present (quot. c 1450), near at hand, imminent (obs.).
c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 6559 He saw his dede day nere present. 1563Golding Cæsar vii. (1565) 220 The whyche suffysed to obtein libertie for the present time, but littel or nothing auailed, to kepe peace and quietnes in time to come. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 343 Other Capteynes of the rebelles affirmed at the present houres of their death, the same to be true. 1622Gataker Spir. Watch (ed. 2) 90 Such holy meditations, as the present occasion should require. 1788Priestley Lect. Hist. v. lxii. 497 There was, however, a present advantage in the system, when it was successful. 1868Freeman Norm. Conq. II. viii. 196 Roger, the present Lord of Montgomery, was, at the time of Duke Robert's death, in banishment. Mod. The present business was to attend to present needs; other things could wait.
†9.
a. Occurring or used at the very time, without delay; immediate, instant. (In quot. 1616, Needed immediately, urgent, pressing.) Obs. (or merged in 6). (Cf. also present help in 5.)
1563B. Googe Cupido 15 Eglogs, etc. (Arb.) 107 Care..bad me seeke sume present helpe, for to relyue my wo. 1578Lyte Dodoens iii. lxxii. 420 Such as haue eaten therof do seeme to laugh, and so they dye laughing, without some present remedie. 1597Bacon Ess. Sacr. Medit. ii. (Arb.) 103 Peter stroke Ananias..with present death. 1616B. Jonson Devil an Ass iii. vi, Alas! the vse of it is so present. a1661Fuller Worthies, Northampt. (1662) ii. 285 The Queen..rigorously demanded the present payment of some arrears. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. §241 An accident..which, without some present resolution, might have prevented my seeing the first stone placed. [1836Penny Cycl. V. 405/1 The attenuation..will depend..upon..whether the beer is for present use or keeping.]
†b. Of a remedy or poison: Taking immediate effect, acting speedily; immediate. (So in 16th c. F.)
1555Eden Decades 123 The sauour of the woodde is presente poyson. 1563Homilies ii. Repentance iii. (1859) 547 Most present and deadly poison. 1576Baker Jewell of Health 145 If a man happen to be burned in any place with fyre, that the presentest remedie is, to burne the same place againe. 1615Markham Eng. Housew. ii. i. (1668) 13 Wash the eye therewith, and it is a present help. 1694Salmon Bate's Dispens. (1713) 499/2 It is a present Remedy against the Suffocation of the Womb.
10. Comb.: chiefly phrases used attrib., as present-time, present-use; also present-minded adj. (cf. sense 4: opp. to absent-minded). See also present-day a..
1836Penny Cycl. V. 405/1 A very good criterion is about 2-5ths of the original saccharometric gravity for present-use ale, and 1-3rd for keeping-ale. 1881J. H. Ingram Mem. Poe in P.'s Wks. I. p. xlviii, Cheerful and present-minded at his work. 1902Fortn. Rev. June 1020 The mysterious and elaborate structure which present-time physiology attributes to the ganglions and the nerve cells.
†B. as adv. Obs.
1. At the present time; immediately, instantly; at present, now: = presently adv. 2.
c1381Chaucer Parl. Foules 423 Or let me deye present in this place. c1386― Knt.'s T. 880 It am I That loueth so hoote Emelye the brighte That I wol dye present in hir sighte. 1595Locrine v. v, That which Locrine's sword could not perform, This present stream shall present bring to pass (drowns herself). 1654Gayton Pleas. Notes iii. iii. 83, I cannot pay you, what I present owe.
2. In or into the presence of some one; in the (or this) very place, there (or here).
a1425Cursor M. 2404 (Trin.) As þei þiderwarde went Þis forwarde made þei þere present. Ibid. 3532 His broþer he fonde þat toke tent To diȝte a noble mete present. c1450Lovelich Grail liv. 322 That he ne schal ful sore Repente, Tyl that A worthy knyht Come presente. 1554Lady Jane Grey's Lament. in Furniv. Ballads fr. MSS. I. 427 The lorde Gilforde my housbande, Whiche suffred here presente.
▪ II. present, n.1|ˈprɛzənt|
[Elliptical or absolute use of prec. adj.: in most senses already so used in OF. In ME. orig. preˈsent.]
I.
†1. = presence 1, 2, 2 b. Obs. Chiefly in phr. in present (OF. en present), whence to, out of (your, etc.) present.[The OF. en present represented 7th c. barbarous L. in præsenti or præsente, for L. in re præsenti, in rem præsentem, in, into the place itself, on or to the very spot. Cf. Lex Baiuwariorum (Text 1, 7th c.) xiii. §2 tunc iudex iubeat eum in præsente (v.r.. -ti) venire, et iudicet ei ‘then shall the judge order him to come before him and shall judge him’.] 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 10800 Ȝe men þat are now yn present, Þat haue herd me rede þys sacrament. 13..Evang. Nicod. 76 in Herrig Archiv LIII. 393 On knese here kneled he to Ihesu Right in þine awen present [rimes tent, went]. c1400Ywaine & Gaw. 1252 Sone unto the kirk thai went, And war wedded in thair present. c1440Ipomydon 1750 And thynke ye shuld haue be shent, Had he be oute of youre present. c1470Golagros & Gaw. 1287 Heir am I cumyn at this tyme to your present.
†b. In pl. presents: prob. error for presence.
a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 259 In presentis of all his lordis. 1592Kyd Sol. & Pers. iii. i. 92 To make thee well assurde How well thy speach and presents liketh vs.
II.
†2. The thing or person that is present; that which is before one, or here; affair in hand; present occasion; pl. things present, circumstances.
c1325Lai le Freine 163 O Lord, he seyd, Jesu Crist,..Vnderfong this present. a1400–50Alexander 3162 And he..þus ordans a pistill... ‘To Porrus vndire my present, plesance and ioy’. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. iv. iii. 189 What Present hath thou there?.. Some certaine treason... I beseech your Grace let this Letter be read. 1601― Twel. N. iii. iv. 380 Ile make diuision of my present with you. 1607― Cor. iii. iii. 42 Shall I be charg'd no further then this present? Must all determine heere? 1764Reid Inquiry i. i. 29 That immediate knowledge which we have of our presents.
b. this present, more commonly these presents: the present document or writing; these words or statements: used in a document to denote the document itself (cf. present a. 2). (So obs. F. ces presentes (sc. lettres), 1537 in Godef.) Chiefly, now only, in legal use.
1389in Eng. Gilds (1870) 48 Be it open and knowen..be þeis presentes, þt [etc.]. 1405Rolls of Parlt. III. 605/1 We Henry Percy..has constitut and assigned and by this presentz constitutes and assignes Sir Henry Boynton..our generalls and specialls Attornes and Deputes. 1497Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) I. 383 Which is..ordeined and establid, by auctorite of this preseint. 1546Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 51 The saidis parteis hes subscryvit thir presentis with thair handis. 1634W. Tirwhyt tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. I.) 235 As I was ready to seale these Presents. 1752in Cruise Digest (1818) VI. 76 Know all men by these presents, that I John Griffin make the aforementioned my last will and testament. 1778Art. Confederation in Bryce Amer. Commw. (1888) I. App. 575 Know ye, that we, the undersigned delegates,..do, by these presents..fully and entirely ratify. 1854Thackeray Rose & Ring xv, [The herald]..began to read:—‘O Yes!..know all men by these presents, that we, Giglio, King of Paflagonia’ [etc.].
III. 3. The present time, the time that now is (as opposed to the past and the future).
c1600Shakes. Sonn. cxv, When I was certain ore incertainty, Crowning the present, doubting of the rest. 1759Johnson Rasselas xxix, To judge rightly of the present we must oppose it to the past. 1850Blackie æschylus II. 151 The present..is everywhere at once the child of the past, and the parent of the future. 1855Browning Childe Roland xviii, Better this present than a past like that.
†b. With ellipsis of month (usually this present): = instant a. 2 b. Obs.
1509in Mem. Hen. VII (Rolls) 435 On the tenthe day of thys present y spake wyth the kyng. 1585–6Earl of Leicester Corr. (Camden) 444 Your excellences letter dated the 19. of this present. 1660–1Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 42 Your kind letter of the 8th present.
c. Gram. Short for present tense: see present a. 7. present stem, the stem of the present tense.
1530Palsgr. 101 Of the Potentiall Mode. The present tense like the present of the indicative. 1871Roby Lat. Gram. ii. xx. (heading), Tenses formed from the present stem. Ibid. §605 The verb sum and compounds have apparently merely a different form of the present for the future.
4. In phrases with prepositions.
†a. in present [= OF. en present (10th c.)], (a) in or at the present time, now; (b) immediately (cf. present a. 9); (c) at that time, then. So in this present = (a). Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 4956 (Cott.) And þat find yee now in present. c1330Amis & Amil. 509 He bileft at hom in present, To kepe al that ther ware. c1440York Myst. xxv. 345 What wolde þou man..in þis present? 1633G. Herbert Temple, Mans Medley i, Mans joy and pleasure Rather hereafter, then in present, is. 1720Mrs. Manley Power of Love (1741) 202 Offering a very large Dowry with his Daughter in Present, and the rest of his Estate in Reversion. a1797H. Howard in 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. 434/1 Y⊇ father could not afford to part with any thing in present upon the marriage.
b. at present, at the present time, now (formerly † at this present; so † at that present, at that time, then; † at the present, in both senses).
1547J. Harrison Exhort. Scottes C iv, The ruynes..are to be seen at this present. 1558in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 388 A parcell of our ground, being at thes presentes waste withoute proffit. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. III. 1197/1 The duke Daumale was there at that present with the Reingraue. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. viii. §254 He was not himself without that design at that present. 1652Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 99 Nations which at this present are in high repute and autoritie. 1709Steele Tatler No. 26 ⁋3 My Reason for troubling you at this present is [etc.]. 1837Whewell in Todhunter Acc. Writ. (1876) II. 263, I myself am a busy man at this present.
1647–8Sir C. Cotterell Davila's Hist. Fr. (1678) 40 All men believed at the present that he was poisoned. 1672C. Manners in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 24 At the present the King and the Duke have put severall things into his hands.
1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. ii. i. §3 This is all we at present desire. 1766Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wom. (1767) I. iv. 128 Of miraculous interposition I think not at present. 1868Lockyer Elem. Astron. v. xxxv. (1879) 206 At present we are nearest to the sun about Christmas time.
†c. of present [OF. de present, 14–15th c.], on the present, at present, now. Obs.
c1500Melusine 45 A grete and meruayllous auenture whiche is happed as of present [Fr. à present] in the place. 1607Shakes. Timon i. i. 141 Three Talents on the present; in future, all.
d. for the present [= F. pour le présent], († formerly also, for this present, for that present, for present), for the time; † for that time, just then (obs.); in mod. use, for this time, just now.
1548in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. iii. III. 295 [He] wold not be spoken withall that night, nor this daye untill nine a clock in the morning, so as they departed for that present. 1565Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 360 Monitionis..necessar for this present. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. vii. 5 b, To whom, for the present they would giue no eare. 1608Great Frost in Arb. Garner I. 91 The wounds that this frost gave the commonwealth were for that present scarce felt. 1643Trapp Comm. Gen. xxxiv. 26 Jacob gave place, for present, to his sons rage and fury. 1660F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 2, I..shall satisfie my self for the present to tell you, that..we sailed happily for some few dayes. 1709Atterbury Serm., Luke x. 32 (1726) II. 226 They desire to be excus'd from that Duty for the present. 1885Bookseller July 647/1 For the present it [the business] will be continued without change of name.
e. until the present, up to the present [= F. dès à présent], until now, up till now. † So formerly till, until this or that present, up to this or that time (obs.).
1600J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa viii. 304 Inscriptions engrauen in marble, and remaining til this present. 1609Bible (Douay) Exod. vii. 16 Until this present thou wouldest not heare. 1652Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 12 From the Peace of Venice 1522 until that present. 1883Manch. Exam. 27 Nov. 5/2 Up to the present the armies of France and China have not been brought into collision.
▪ III. present, n.2|ˈprɛzənt|
Also 3–4 -ant, 3–5 -aunt, (3 pl. -auns), 3–6 -ente, 4 -end, -aunde, 4–6 -and(e, 5 -aunte, -awnte, -ond, -ound, 6 -aunt, Sc. praisant.
[a. OF. present (10th c. in Hatz.-Darm.) = Pr. prezens, It., Sp., Pg. presente an offering, a gift. In OF., originating in the phrase en present in or into the presence (cf. present n.1 1): mettre (une chose) en present à (quelqu'un), to put a thing into the presence of or before any one (i.e. to offer or present it to him), in which en present was in effect = en don ‘in the form of, or as a gift’, making présent at length = don ‘gift’. Cf. present v. 11.]
†1. In the expression, in (into, intil), to present, = OF. en present: in or into a person's presence, before a person (as an offering); as a gift.
a1225Ancr. R. 114 Þet þeo ilke þet he bledde uore ne brouhten heo him to presente ne win, ne ale, ne water. c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 178/22 Gold, and mirre, and An-sens, In presaunt heo him brouȝten. a1300Cursor M. 7588 And broght it þe king to presand. c1320Sir Tristr. 825 Heuedes of wild bare Ichon to presant brouȝt. 1375Barbour Bruce xviii. 170 [Thai] send it [the head] syne in-till Ingland, To Eduard king in-till presand.
2. a. A thing that is offered, presented, or given: = gift n. 3. (The ordinary current sense).
a1225Ancr. R. 152 Þoa uormest heo unwrien þet present þet heo beren. a1300Cursor M. 160 Þe kynges þat him soght thre presandes til him broght. 1470–85Malory Arthur i. viii. 44 The kyng made grete ioye and sente the kynges and knyghtes grete presentes. 1495Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. vi. xiii. (W. de W.) m viij, To wynne the loue of her that he wowyth wyth yeftes..and wyth dyuers presents. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xvii. 19 b, The Ambassadour sent his presents vnto the Bascha. 1611Bible Gen. xliii. 25 They made ready the Present against Ioseph came at noone. 1687A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 85 The Mules that carried the Presents were..unloaded. 1703Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1732) 7 We went to visit the Aga with a small Present in our hands. 1861M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 45 Silver and pewter plate,..presents to the Corporation from all parts of the Continent.
transf.1625Bacon Ess., Greatn. Kingdoms (Arb.) 483 Romulus after his death..sent a present to the Romans that [L. illud civibus suis legavit ut] above all things they should intend arms.
b. The act or fact of presenting or giving, presentation: = gift n. 1. Usually in phr. to make a present (formerly also to make present): to make a gift or presentation (to a person, or with indirect dative obj.); to make a present of = to present, give, bestow. With indirect passive: to be made a present.
13..Coer de L. 1218 Over the see thenne are they went, For to make the fayr present. c1325Spec. Gy Warw. 1018 Riht to my-selfe,..Þu dost þi present euery dele. c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 1135 (MS. G g. 4. 27) How that he schulde make The presentis [other 5 texts presenting]. c1440York Myst. xv. 110, I am ovir poure to make presande. 1513Douglas æneis iii. ix. 44 My fader Anchises..gaif that ȝoung man hys richt hand, And assuris his spreit with that presand. 1645Waller Apol. having Lov'd ii, To the first that's faire or kind, Make a present of their heart. 1774J. Bryant Mythol. II. 379 Pausanias mentions one, which had been made a present to the Deity at Olympia. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 667 To purchase the connivance of the agents..by presents of hogsheads of wine, and of gloves stuffed with guineas. 1884J. T. Trowbridge Farnell's Folly xxvi, Marian had made her a present of a new dress.
†c. spec. A bribe: = gift n. 5. Obs.
1362Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 80 Bote Meede þe Mayden þe Meir heo bi-souȝte, Of alle such sullers seluer to taken, Or presentes withouten pons as peces of seluer. Ibid. 208 Þe pope and his prelates presentes vnderfongen.
d. An offering to God or a deity: = gift n. 4. Now rare or Obs.
1535Coverdale Ps. lxxv[i]. 11 Brynge presentes vnto him yt ought to be feared. 1606G. W[oodcocke] Hist. Ivstine xliii. 135 Returning from Delphos (whither they had bene sent to carry presents vnto Apollo). 1707Watts Hymn, ‘When I survey the wondrous cross’ v, Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small.
e. a present from (Brighton etc.): an inscription on a piece of souvenir pottery etc., bearing the name of the town in which it is sold; hence, a piece of pottery etc. so inscribed, a souvenir.
1852Dickens Bleak Ho. (1853) iv. 28 We found a mug, with ‘A Present from Tunbridge Wells’ on it. 1890Kipling Courting of Dinah Shadd 125 She gave me a drink out of a china mug wi' gold letters—‘A Present from Leeds’. 1921W. de la Mare Mem. Midget viii. 49 A gay little bumper of milk gilded with the enwreathed letters, ‘A Present from Dover’. 1962N. Mitford Water Beetle 113 The china cabinet will contain Rose Pompadour Sèvres cheek by jowl with A Present from Bexhill. 1964F. Sinclair Three Slips to Noose vii. 61 A small square room furnished with..china shepherds and presents from Clacton. 1974J. Stubbs Painted Face i. 32 A small ash-tray..inscribed A Present from Brighton.
†3. An offer, proposal. Obs.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 75 Of pes þei mad present, to turne ilkon þer pers Ageyn to Danmark go with his wille & his leue. Ibid. 303 To maynten þam in stoure, þei mad him þer present, Scotlond of him to hold.
4. Comb., as present-giver, present-giving, etc.
1895Daily News 22 Oct. 6/5 It is an occasion of present-giving ad lib.; the confirmee receiving gifts from all her relatives and friends. 1897Westm. Gaz. 28 Dec. 4/2 A mission steamer made her usual trips present-laden to the lightships of the Thames Estuary. 1901Daily Chron. 20 Aug. 5/1 The procrastinations of a present-giver indefinitely prolong and augment his sufferings.
▪ IV. present, n.3 Mil.|prɪˈzɛnt|
[f. present v. 9 a.]
The act of presenting or aiming a weapon, esp. a fire-arm; the position of the weapon when presented, esp. the position from which a rifle is fired.
1833Regul. Instr. Cavalry i. 98 Bring the carbine down to the ‘Present’. 1846Marryat Privateersman xvii, ‘Who are you?’ said she, with the musket ready for the present. 1847Infantry Man. (1854) 40 c The first file comes to the present. 1859Musketry Instr. 42 The most minute attention is to be given to each man's position when at ‘the present’. 1902R. W. Chambers Maids of Paradise vii, An Uhlan..stood on guard below the steps, his lance at a ‘present’.
▪ V. present, v.|prɪˈzɛnt|
Also 4–6 presente, 5 presand, 6–7 præsent; contr. pa. tense 4 presende, 4–7 present, 5 presand; pa. pple. 4–6 present.
[a. OF. presenter (11th c. in Littré, in mod.F. présenter):—L. præsentāre to place before, exhibit, hold out, exhibit a likeness to, in late and med.L. to present to a person as a gift, lit. to make present, f. præsent-em present a.]
I. To make present to, bring into the presence of.
1. a. trans. To bring or place (a person) before, into the presence of, or under the notice of, another; to introduce, esp. formally or ceremoniously; spec. to introduce at court, or before a sovereign or other superior.
c1290Beket 289 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 115 For þe king was in Normandie, I presented he was To henri, is sone, in Engelonde. c1400Destr. Troy 7837 He..went with þo worthy, &..Present hom to Priam, þat was prise lord. 1526Tindale Acts xxiii. 33 They delivered the pistle to the debite [= deputy], and presented Paul before him. ― Jude 24 Vnto hym that is able..to present you fautlesse before the presence off hys glory. 1582N. T. (Rhem.) Acts ix. 41 And when he had called the saincts and the widowes, he presented her aliue. 1612Boyle in Lismore Papers (1886) I. 13 Sir Thomas Roper presented Wm my cook and his wyffe into my service. 1670Lady M. Bertie in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 21 The Dutchesse..presented mee to kisse the Queene's hand. 1716Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to Lady X ― 1 Oct., Whoever pleases may go, without the formality of being presented. 1844Disraeli Coningsby iii. ii, The Duke and Duchess had returned from London..with their daughter, who had been presented this year. 1853Lytton My Novel v. viii, ‘They say he is clever’. ‘Present him, my love; I like clever people’, said Mrs. M'Catchley. 1903McNeill Egregious English 31 Sometimes even Mr. and Mrs. Man-of-Business manage to get presented.
b. To bring before or into the presence of God; to dedicate by so bringing: cf. presentation 1.
13..Cursor M. 10358 (Gött.) Scho sal be al godd be-kende; To him presentyd [Cott. offrid: cf. 10581] at thre ȝer ende. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 269 After [þat] fourty dayes of þe nativite, in a Þorsday, þe secounde day of Feverer, Criste was presented in þe temple. c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) xxv. 114 Þe first [feste] es at þat tyme þat þe Grete Caan was borne; þe secund es at þat tyme þat he was presented in to þaire tempill..whare he was circumcised. 1526Tindale Luke ii. 22 They brought hym to hierusalem, to present hym to the lorde. 1548–9(Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Collect Purification, As thy onelye begotten Sonne was this day presented in the Temple.., so graunte that we maie bee presented unto thee with pure and cleare myndes; By Jesus Christ our Lorde. 1818Benson Comm. Bible Luke ii. 22–24 Luke himself introduces both the parents as presenting Jesus. 1881E. A. Greene Saints & Symbols, (1888) 135 When she [Mary B. V.] was three years old she was taken by her parents to be presented in the Temple.
c. A candidate is said to be presented (or to present himself) for examination; one who has passed a university examination, or is honoured with a degree, is presented for the degree; a theatrical manager is said (in recent use) to present an actor, etc. Also fig.
1661Wood Life (O.H.S.) I. 414 Severall noble men [were] created Masters of Art,..who were presented in scarlet robes belonging to Doctors. 1721Amherst Terræ Fil. No. 24 (1726) 131 The next congregation he was presented to his degree. 1797Cambr. Univ. Calendar 143 [The public orator] His duty is to present noblemen to their degrees [etc.]. 1859Lond. Univ. Calendar 51 On receiving each instalment he shall declare his intention of presenting himself at the Second Examination within two years from the time of his passing the First Examination. 1880Plain Hints Needlework 54 In infant schools, and in others where children are not presented [for examination] in needlework under Article 19 c. 1, but only under Article 17 f. 1906J. Wells Oxford Degree Ceremony 11 note, The old principle is that no one should be presented except by a member of the University who has a degree as high or higher than that sought. 190.Mod. Newspaper (Advt.) Charles Frohman presents Ellaline Terriss and Seymour Hickes in ‘The Gay Gordons’. 1923Adelphi Aug. 236 Osbert is a born impresario... Osbert ‘presents’ the [Sitwell] family, and does it with originality.
†d. To bring (a person) by proxy or in a figure; to offer the salutation or greetings of (one at a distance); to give greeting from, to ‘remember’ (any one) to.
a1657R. Loveday Lett. (1663) 55 Present me tenderly to my Sisters F. and J. 1774Burke Corr. (1844) I. 503 Present me cordially to Mrs. Champion. 1792Jefferson Writ. (1859) III. 495 Present me affectionately to Mrs. Gilmer.
2. a. refl. to present oneself: to come into the presence and sight of another or others, or into a particular place, esp. in a formal manner; to appear, attend. Cf. sense 9 b.
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints l. (Katerine) 1001 Þane sir purphire..Has present hyme befor þe king. c1450Holland Howlat 152 How thai apperit to the Pape and present thaim aye Fair farrand and fre. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iii. vi. 79 They are bound to present themselues euery morning at his house. 1611Bible Job i. 6 Now there was a day, when the sons of God came to present themselues before the Lord. a1792Bp. Horne Disc. Purification Wks. 1818 III. 157 That he who was thus offered in the temple,..still continues to present himself, to appear in the presence of God for us. 1841Lane Arab. Nts. I. ii. 85 [He] presented himself before the king. 1859[see 1 c]. 1880[see presbyope]. 1896Law Times C. 488/1 He presented himself at the museum, and attempted to enter the reading-room.
†b. intr. in same sense. Obs.
c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 357 Ȝif two men ben of o date, whoever presentiþ first, shal be avaunsid bifore. 1605B. Jonson Volpone iii. v, Has shee presented? 1626― Staple of N. ii. ii, I must correct that ignorance and ouersight, Before I doe present.
3. trans.
a. To name and recommend (a clergyman) to the bishop for institution to a benefice. Often absol. (Cf. also 12.) Also, to introduce or recommend to a presbytery (a candidate) for licence as a preacher.[1278Rolls of Parlt. I. 3/2 Quod idem Abbas permitteret predictum Ricardum presentare idoneam personam ad Ecclesiam de Shire.] 1473–5in Calr. Proc. Chanc. Q. Eliz. (1830) II. Pref. 61 To..put youre seid besecher frome hys free nominacion and will of presentyng to the seid church. 1523Fitzherb. Surv. 29 He yt hath right to present to a churche at one tyme. 1595in Calr. Laing Charters (1899) 319 Mr. James..has presentit and proponit him to the presbyterie of Couper..to be tryit. c1650Rolls of Parlt. II. 437/1 The Incumbent..thereunto presented by the Chancellor of Ireland. 1673P. Henry Diary (1882) 259 He was praesented to a living by y⊇ lord Ward. 1726Ayliffe Parergon 415 The Patron may present several Persons to the Bishop, though he can only give Institution to one. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 26 A lunatic cannot present to a church, nor his committee. For where a lunatic is seised of an advowson, the Lord Chancellor..presents to the living. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. iv. 291 The supposed right of the pope to present to English benefices.
b. To nominate to the benefits of any foundation or charitable institution.
1820Lamb Elia Ser. i. Christ's Hosp. 35 Years Ago, L.'s governor (so we called the patron who presented us to the foundation) lived in a manner under his paternal roof.
4. a. To put before the eyes of some one; to hold forth to view; to offer to sight or observation; to show, exhibit, display; also (in recent use), To offer (some quality or attribute) to view or notice; to exhibit, be characterized by. Also refl.
1500–20Dunbar Poems lxxi. 30 And thy bidding we trest thay sall ganestand, Without thow cum and present thame thy face. 1563T. Hill Art Garden. (1593) 65 If any would put away the red spots of the face, which do present a kinde of leaprie. 1610Shakes. Temp. v. i. 85, I will discase me, and my selfe present As I was sometime Millaine. 1664Power Exp. Philos. i. 17 The Glass [microscope] failed in presenting them. 1717Pope Eloisa to Abelard 327 In sacred vestments may'st thou stand,..Present the Cross before my lifted eye. 1823F. Clissold Ascent Mt. Blanc 23 The snow-topped Apennines presented an appearance of low scattered clouds. 1816Keatinge Trav. (1817) I. 11 note, Who would have thought it should have presented the interest it does at the hour, March the 18th, 1814? 1835–6Todd's Cycl. Anat. I. 685/1 The shells of the Balanids present several striking peculiarities of structure. 1853J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. (1873) II. i. ii. 63 Lands, as Asia Minor, which have presented a very different aspect in different ages. 1885Sir N. Lindley in Law Rep. 14 Q. Bench Div. 714 The few points which present any difficulty.
b. present arms (Mil.), to hold a fire-arm or other weapon in a position expressing honour and deference, in saluting a person of superior rank.
1759[W. Windham] Plan Discipl. Norfolk Militia 10 note, Presenting the arms, being the same position as the rest, needs no further explanation; it is so termed when used as a compliment. 1796–7Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813) 244 The men present arms, and the officers salute, so as to drop their swords with the last motion of presented arms. 1798Brit. Milit. Jrnl. Oct., Manual Exercise of Pikes [2nd word of command]..Present Pike. 1837Dickens Pickw. iv, There was a general clash of muskets, as arms were presented. 1853Stocqueler Milit. Encycl., Present arms! is the salutation of a sentry, a guard, or an entire line when a superior officer appears, or the ‘colours’ are saluted. The motion is performed by bringing the firelock in a perpendicular position in front of the body, and at the same time placing the hollow of the right foot against the heel of the left.
c. Of a radio or television producer or broadcaster: to bring (a broadcast item) before the listening or watching audience, to introduce or announce (a programme). Of a performer: to perform (a song etc.).
1933Radio Times 14 Apr. 120/1 Tonight Mr. James Agate ‘presents’ perhaps the greatest..star of this glittering series. 1961N.Y. Times 30 Jan. 19 Ellie Mao, soprano, and Frederick Fuller, baritone, presented a program of folksongs entitled ‘East meets West’ in Carnegie Recital Hall last night. 1972Listener 10 Aug. 187/2 The need felt by..the Presentation Department at Television Centre..to do something more than merely ‘present’ the evening's programmes. ‘Presenting’ means seeing that the programmes get on the air tidily and on time, smoothing over or explaining disaster, making announcements and trailing coming events. 1976Laurel (Montana) Outlook 9 June 6/3 A solo, presented by Marilyn Parker, was accompanied by Mrs. Markegard.
5. a. To make present to mind or thought, exhibit to mental perception; to offer to notice or consideration; to suggest to the mind; to set forth or describe; to represent (as or to be); to set forth. Also absol.
1579Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 1001/1 To cut off all the desires which Sathan presenteth vs, to cause vs to loue the world. 1604Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 124 So iustly to your Graue eares, Ile present How I did thriue in this faire Ladies loue. 1649Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. Pref. §32 Faith which is presented to be an infused grace. 1667Milton P.L. ix. 213 Hear what to my mind first thoughts present. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. II. 55 The creature is presented as very shy. 1885Manch. Exam. 21 May 6/1 The arguments on both sides..were presented with clearness and precision. 1976Daily Tel. 20 July 3/2 How can anyone, any lawyer, present any case that is acceptable in common sense. 1976Dallas Morning News 22 Sept. 10b/5 Learn to read, learn to listen, learn to think, learn to write, learn to present. Ibid., Businesses have botched sales efforts mainly because their people..could not present their information in clear and ‘selling’ English.
†b. To offer (battle or the like); to offer or propse (a toast). Obs. rare.
1600J. Dymmok Ireland (1843) 40 The lord Lieutenant..presented a charge to the rebells grosse of horse and foote. a1627Hayward (J.), He was appointed admiral, and presented battle to the French navy, which they refused. 1632Lithgow Trav. x. 431 To pledge or present his Maiesties health.
6. a. refl. (from 4, 5) Of a thing: To offer itself to view or perception; to come before one's sight or notice; to show itself, appear; to suggest itself, come into one's mind; to occur.
1590Spenser F.Q. iii. vii. 19 She went in perill, of each noyse affeard, And of each shade that did it selfe present. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. i. 204 A remedie presents it selfe. 1638Junius Paint. Ancients 72 Here also presenteth it selfe in the open fields a great and fearfull spectacle. 1746–7Hervey Medit., Tombs (1818) 73 They look forward, and nothing presents itself but the righteous Judge; the dreadful tribunal. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xxv. 191 The terrible possibility of his losing his hands presented itself to me.
b. intr. in same senses: cf. to offer. Now rare.
1697J. Sergeant Solid Philos. 370 Our First Principles..govern all our Thoughts as occasion presents. 1759Goldsm. Bee No. 1 Whichever way I turned, nothing presented but prospects of terror. 1805E. de Acton Nuns of Desert II. 148 The idea of ventriloquism never presented to either of the Gentlemen or the Lady. 1868Chambers' Encycl. V. 252/2 When no other resource presents.
7. a. trans. To bring before the mind by means of a symbol, to symbolize; to represent, to be the representative of; to be a sign of, stand for, denote; to be a picture of. arch.
c1400Destr. Troy 2189 Thou shuld..herkon my wille,..present myn astate; To lede all my legis with likyng in werre. 1578Whetstone Promos & Cass. i. i, He absent, I present our Soueraigne styll. 1599Thynne Animadv. (1875) 36 Whiche venome they call by all names presentinge or signyfyinge poysone, as a toode, a dragon, a Basiliske, a serpente, arsenicke, and suche lyke. 1640Fuller Joseph's Coat (1867) 55 ‘This is My body.’ That is, that which signifies, signs, and presents My body. 1651Hobbes Leviath. ii. xviii. 88 The Right to Present the Person of them all, (that is to say, to be their Representative). 1813Scott Rokeby i. xx. note, A remarkable figure, called Robin of Risingham, or Robin of Reedsdale. It presents a hunter, with his bow raised in one hand, and in the other what seems to be a hare.
b. To represent (a character) on the stage; to act (the character of); to personate, arch.
1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. i. 124 Sir, you shall present before her the Nine Worthies. Ibid. v. ii. 537 He presents Hector of Troy. 1598― Merry W. iv. vi. 20 To-night at Hernes-Oke..Must my sweet Nan present the Faerie Queene. 1824Scott St. Ronan's xx. 1826― Woodst. vii, We saw Mills present Bomby at the Fortune playhouse. 1847Tennyson Princ. i. 193 Remembering how we three presented Maid Or Nymph, or Goddess,..In masque or pageant.
†c. To act (a play, or scene in a play). Obs.
(? With mixture of sense 4.)
a1610Healey Epictetus' Man. (1636) 50 Now they sound the Trumpets, and presently they present the Tragedies. 1637Milton (title) A Maske presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: on Michaelmasse night. 1637Evelyn Diary (1819) I. 7 At Christmas the Gentlemen of Exeter College presented a Comedy to the University.
8. Law. To bring or lay before a court, magistrate, or person in authority, for consideration or trial; to make presentment of.
a. To make a formal statement of; to submit (a fact, or a request, complaint, etc.). Also absol.[1290Rolls of Parlt. I. 56/2 Presentatum fuit coram eis quod Abbas Sancti Benedicti obstruxit quandam ripariam barrera et catena.] a1400Pistill of Susan 206 Þus wiþ cauteles qwaynt, Preostes presented þis playnt. 1450Rolls of Parlt. V. 212/2 The seid xii men dar noo-thing say ne present agayns the seid mysdoers. 1546in Eng. Gilds (1870) 202 A house..whych hath byn always employed, as hit was presented before the kynges Maiestyes Commyssioners there, to the mayntenaunce of one scolemaster ther. 1724Swift Drapier's Lett. Wks. 1755 V. ii. 104 A sharp censure..against dissolving grand-juries..while matters are under their consideration and not presented. Ibid. 105 Scroggs dissolved the grand-jury of London for fear they should present; but ours in Dublin was dissolved, because they would not present. 1891Maitland & Baildon Court Baron (Selden Soc.) 100 The ale-tasters present that Agneta the widow brewed and sold contrary to the assize.
b. To bring (an offence, or something faulty) formally under the notice of the proper authority, for enquiry or action.
1429Rolls of Parlt. IV. 359 And he yat..presenteth yat offence to ye Tresorer. 1477Ibid. VI. 190/1 Then the same Serchours present such defautes before the Justices of peas. 1555Nottingham Rec. (1889) IV. 108 We presente the common bulle, that he be put a-way, for he ys nothyng worth. 1705Hearne Collect. 2 Sept. (O.H.S.) I. 40 The Grand Juries..presented ‘the Memorial of the Ch. of England’. 1881Times 28 July 9/5 There is not a rural dean in England who would not present St. Margaret's churchyard to his archdeacon at the next Visitation.
c. To bring a formal charge or accusation against (a person), to charge formally; to report or bring up for trial.
1526Tindale Mark xiii. 11 But when they leade you and present you take noo thought. 1588W. Smith Brief Descr. Lond. (Harl. MS. 6363, lf. 13), They present euery man, at whose dore the street is not well paved. 1603Constit. & Canons Eccl. cxxi. 1701Prideaux Direct. Ch.-wardens 2 The Church-wardens are also to present all such as come not to Church. 1745De Foe's Eng. Tradesman (1841) II. xxxix. 117 A tradesman wrangling in every bargain..should be presented as a public nuisance.
9. To place (a thing) in, or give to (it), a particular direction or position.
a. To point (a weapon, esp. a fire-arm) at something; to hold (it) out in the position of taking aim, so as to be ready to fire immediately. Also absol. (esp. as word of command). (See also 4 b.)
1579Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 227 The said George Hume presentand ane pistolet to him. 1678Sir G. Mackenzie Crim. Laws Scot. i. xxxi. §3 (1699) 158 William Hamilton pursued for wearing of Pistols, and presenting one to the Provost of Edinburgh. 1719De Foe Crusoe (1840) I. xvi. 280 He sees me cock and present. 1725― Voy. round World (1840) 155 He presented his piece, and shot them both flying. 1801Strutt Sports & Past. iii. i. §14 According to Virgil, the Roman youth presented their lances towards their opponents in a menacing position. 1823Scott Peveril vii, He ordered his own people to present their pistols and carabines. 1853Stocqueler Milit. Encycl., Present, to level; to aim; to bring the firelock to an horizontal position, the butt resting against the right shoulder for the purpose of discharging its contents at a given object.
b. Obstetrics. Of the fœtus: To direct (a particular part) towards the os uteri during labour. Usually intr. for refl. said of the part so directed, or of the fœtus in relation to its position during labour. Also Path. of a tumour or abscess: To be directed, to project. Also more widely in Med.: of a condition: to be manifest, to occur. Of a patient: to present himself or appear for an initial medical examination. Cf. sense 2 b above, and quot. 1880 in sense 2 a.
1597A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 36/1 Followinge the naturall Childebirth, the childe allways præsenteth first his heade. 1722Quincy Lex. Physico-Med. 163/1 When the Child presents in any other Posture. 1790R. Bland in Med. Commun. II. 415 The head of the child presented. 1897Allbutt's Syst. Med. III. 377 A periœsophageal abscess frequently presents laterally. 1925Boston Med. & Surg. Jrnl. 23 July 179/1 A rather marked purplish hemorrhagic area presented about the wound. 1960Lancet 16 Jan. 138/2 A patient presenting with an exacerbation of bronchitis was initially assigned by the doctor to one of three categories. 1972Nature 8 Sept. 102/2 These complications may present as hypersensitivity reactions.., but most often they take the form of gastric erosions. 1976Lancet 20 Nov. 1107/2, 73 boys who presented to their general practitioners..with symptoms of urinary-tract infection..were referred to a three-year prospective study. 1977Proc. R. Soc. Med. LXX. 262/1 It is not unusual for patients to present in an eye department with symptoms associated with either poor accommodation or poor convergence.
c. trans. To point, direct, or turn (a thing) to face something, or in a specified direction. Also intr.
1793Smeaton Edystone L. §225 The first course, consisting of four stones,..which, as they all presented some part of their faces to the sea, were all of Moorstone. 1820Shelley Œdipus i. 318 The swine..with bare tusks And wrinkled snouts presented to the foe. 1849E. B. Eastwick Dry Leaves 128 Occasion was now offering us her forelock: we strove in vain afterwards to catch the close-shorn backhead which she presented to us in her flight.
†d. intr. for refl. Of the wind (Naut.): To take a favourable direction; to begin to blow from the right quarter. Obs.
1687Lond. Gaz. No. 2306/1 The Wind presenting fair, they were obliged to sail that Evening. 1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 2 A rich and numerous Fleet of Merchants,..designed for their several Places of Traffick, when the Wind should present. 1712W. Rogers Voy. (1718) 375 In case the wind should present sooner.
10. To bring, introduce, or put (a substance) into the presence of or into close contact with another.
1758Reid tr. Macquer's Chym. I. 21 If a pure Alkali be presented to a pure Acid, they rush together with violence. 1807T. Thomson Chem. (ed. 3) II. 392 When the vapour of alcohol is mixed with oxygen.., the mixture detonates when presented to a lighted taper.
II. To make an offering, present, or gift of; to offer, deliver, give.
11. a. trans. To bring or place (a thing) before or into the presence of a person, or to put (it) into his hands, for acceptance; to offer, proffer, deliver, hand over, bestow, give (usually in a formal or ceremonious manner).
With various connotations: as (a) to offer or give as a gift (cf. present n.2); (b) to offer as an act of worship, as a sacrifice, etc.; = offer v. 1; (c) to offer or hand something in ministration, service, or courtesy; † (d) to deliver or hand a letter: formerly used in addressing a letter; see quots.; (e) to offer a book or literary work to readers, to put it in their power to buy or read it. In the earliest quots. the things presented are gifts, but it is doubtful whether this was implied in the verb: there is no implication of a gift in F. présenter or présentation.s
(a)c1325Chron. Eng. (Ritson) 625 He brohte a riche present,..he presentede him also Other thinges fele mo. 13..K. Alis. 686 (Bodl. MS.) His man him brouȝth by a cheyne A grisely beest, a hugged colte..He presented it to þe kynge. a1400–50Alexander 5138 Ȝit sall I send ȝow..a sertan of giftis,..I presand ȝow, of panters full of proud mascles, Foure hundreth fellis. c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 7 Three gostly giftes..Unto the kyng anone they did present. 1508Dunbar Goldyn Targe 87 Thare saw I Nature present hir a gounn Rich to behald..Off ewiry hew. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xv. 15 b, [They] presented vnto him a mulet. 1665Boyle Occas. Refl., Occas. Medit. iv. iv, The best Trees present us their Blossoms, before they give us their Fruit. 1794A. M. Bennett Ellen I. 148 To present Miss Meredith in his name, a very elegant little watch. 1859Tennyson Lancelot & Elaine 70 With purpose to present them [the diamonds] to the Queen.
(b)1548–9(Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion, Here wee offre and present unto thee (O Lorde) oure selfe, oure soules, and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and liuely sacrifice unto thee. 1611Bible Rom. xii. 1, I beseech you therefore brethren,..that ye present your bodies a liuing sacrifice, holy, acceptable vnto God, which is your reasonable seruice. 1901Bp. Gore Body of Christ iii. §3 (1907) 198 The earlier practice..was to present the earthly prayers and sacrifices at the heavenly altar. 1907Ibid. 310 note, The Fathers in general teach..that our Lord..is now acting as our great high-priest in heaven;..presenting His sacrifice on our behalf, or presenting our sacrifices for us.
(c)a1533Ld. Berners Huon xlv. 150, I present you this cuppe, that ye shulde drynke therof. 1601Shakes. Jul. C. iii. ii. 101, I thrice presented him a Kingly Crowne, Which he did thrice refuse. 1712–14Pope Rape Lock iii. 130 So Ladies in Romance assist their Knight, Present the spear, and arm him for the fight. 1777W. Dalrymple Trav. Sp. & Port. xliii, Another nobleman..to hand him his wine and water, which he tastes and presents on his knee.
(d)1536in M. A. E. Green Lett. R. & Illust. Ladies (1846) II. cviii. 266 To the right honourable and my singular good lord, the Lord Privy Seal, this be presented. 1635N. Bacon in Priv. Corr. Lady J. Cornwallis (1842) 274 To my deare and loving mother, the Lady Bacon, presente these. 1642in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. IV. 2 To the hands of the Lady Marie, Princesse of Aurania, these present. 1720in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 354 To the Honble the Lord Harley, present.
(e)1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §1 To present to the world..a full and clear Narration. 1662in Boyle's Spring of Air Publisher to Rdr., These following answers to Franciscus Linus and Mr. Hobbs are presented in compensation of the delay. 1860Hook Lives Abps. (1869) I. i. 2 The work now presented to the reader. Ibid. v. 267 The document by which it was accomplished shall be presented to the reader.
b. With a person as obj.: To deliver up as a prisoner.
c1360E.E. Allit. P. B. 1217 Hise gentyle..presented wern as presoneres to the prynce rychest. 1375Barbour Bruce xv. 301 Bot weill soyne eftir he wes tane, And presentit wes to the kyng. c1820Lingard Hist. Eng. (1855) IV. ii. 93/1 They [Queen Margaret and ladies] were..discovered, and presented as prisoners to the King [Edw. IV].
c. To deliver, convey, give (something non-material, esp. a message, greeting, or the like); to offer (compliments, regards, etc.); † to offer or render (service or assistance).
13..Coer de L. 2179 The messengers told al the dishonour, That them did the emperour;..And the steward's presenting His behest, and his helping. c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 1297 (Dido) And ek mercurye his massage hath presentid. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. iii. xvi. (1495) d iv/1 What he [the wit] take of that he felyth, he presentyth to thynwytt. 1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies v. xxix. 422 This Service presented, the old man returned. 1611Shakes. Wint. T. ii. i. 17 We shall Present our seruices to a fine new Prince One of these dayes. 1638R. Baker tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. II) 19 To present you my complements. 1656B. Harris Parival's Iron Age (1659) 43 That..the Hollanders..had presented all kind of help to the Venetians. Mod. Mr. A. presents his compliments to Mr. B., and regrets to say [etc.].
d. To deliver formally to the proper quarter (a document, as a written address, petition, order, bill, account, etc.) for acceptance, or to be dealt with according to its tenor. Also fig.
1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xxxi. (Percy Soc.) 151 In our court there is a byll presented By Graund Amour. c1655Milton Sonn., On his Blindness 5 My Soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account. 1742Pope Dunc. iv. 136 Now crowds on crowds around the Goddess press, Each eager to present their first Address. 1771Goldsm. Hist. Eng. IV. 181 Both houses presented her warm addresses. 1819Shelley Cenci ii. ii. 59 But you, Orsino, Have the petition: wherefore not present it? 1863H. Cox Instit. i. ix. 165 After a bill is prepared and presented, the question is put that it be read a first time. 1900Westm. Gaz. 30 Jan. 9/3 ‘Present again’,..shows that the banker has reason to believe that the cheque will be met.
e. Of things: To offer, furnish, afford, supply.
1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iii. xxv. 197 Some [fountains] are quite dried vp, according to the force and vigour they have, and the matter that is presented. a1614Donne βιαθανατος (1644) 191 If a man when an urgent occasion is presented, expose himselfe to a certaine and assured death. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India II. iv. iv. 118 An opportunity which good fortune seemed to present. 1863Lyell Antiq. Man ii. 19 [Their] thatched roofs and wooden walls could present but a poor defence.
†12. To give, make presentation of (a benefice) to a clergyman. Obs. (Cf. 3.)
c1390York Manual (Surtees) 120 All those that maliciously distourbes or lettis the right presentacion of a chirche, the whiche the very patron sholde present. c1425MS. Cott. Claud. A. 2 lf. 124 Alle þoo þat lettuth þe rytheful patron to present his chyrche þat he hath ryte to. 1579Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 177 Lyke as..all benefices hes bene presentit and collationat sen the begynning of his Hienes regnne. 1796M. Robinson Angelina III. 33, I had, this morning, the happiness of presenting him a living in Herefordshire, (of three hundred pounds annually).
13. To make a presentation or gift to; to give a present or presents to; to bestow something upon; to endow.[The resultant sense here is as in 11, but the person, who is the dative object in 11, is here the direct object, the thing presented being either introduced by with, or (in b) unexpressed. This construction appears to have been of Eng. development, there being nothing similar in OF. or med.L. It is notable that it is represented as early as sense 11.] a. to present a person with a thing = to present a thing to a person (sense 11). Formerly in the full extent of sense 11; now always implying bestowal of something as a gift to be kept (11 (a)). Also fig. to furnish or supply with something.
a1300Cursor M. 12318 Iesus..bar it ham als in a ball, And present þan his moder wit-all. a1310in Wright Lyric P. xxxiv. 96 When the kynges come wery, to presente hyre sone With myrre, gold, ant encenz. 13..Guy Warw. (A.) 1039 This present ȝe schullen vnderfong,..And present þer-wiþ..Rohaut, mi kinde lord. c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) xxv. 116 Efter þaim commez grete barounes and presandez him with sum iowell. c1500Melusine 304 He was..receyued with grete joye, & presented with gret ryches. 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. ii. i. 55, I do present you with a man of mine Cunning in Musicke, and the Mathematickes, To instruct her fully in those sciences. 1660Barrow Euclid ii. prop. i. Schol., You must take all the Rectangles of the parts, and they will present you with the Rectangle of the wholes. 1676Hale Contempl. i. 65 The knowledge of Christ Jesus presents me with a continual Object of a higher value. 1787Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 103 To present the public with this acceptable present. 1803J. Morse in M. Cutler's Life, etc. (1888) II. 130 Yesterday week Mrs. Morse presented me with a fine daughter. 1831Southey Lett. (1856) IV. 247 Mrs. Bray..has desired to present you with a copy of Mary Colling's poem.
†b. with personal obj. only; rarely absol.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 3219 Þou scholdest vs presente & gyue, And helpe vs alle in pes to lyue; Bot now þou comest to reue vs our socour. c1400Mandeville (1839) xxii. 237 Whan þat all men han þus presented the Emperour. 1594T. Bedingfield tr. Machiavelli's Florentine Hist. (1595) 209 [He] was by the King so bountifully presented, and louingly vsed. a1648Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 210 Francis not only richly presented him, but conducted him through the Town. 1676South Serm. (1823) I. 240 In these days men present just as they soil their ground, not that they love the dirt, but that they expect a crop. 1691tr. Emilianne's Observ. Journ. Naples 105 They bestow them [benefices] upon such Seculars as Present them highest. 1712Arbuthnot John Bull ii. iv, Have I not presented you nobly? Have I not clad your whole family?
▸ Immunol. Of a cell or cell surface molecule: to display (antigen fragments) on the cell surface for recognition by T-lymphocytes or other cells of the immune system.
1971Proc. Royal Soc. (B.) 176394 The observations that T-lymphocytes play an antigen-specific role, yet do not release antibody lead to the idea that they may be required to capture and present the antigen in some way before it can stimulate B-lymphocytes. 1975Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 72 5098/1 It may be that effective interactions between sensitized lymphocytes and cells presenting antigens (presumably macrophages) are governed by cell surface structures coded by genes of the MHC. 1984M. J. Taussig Processes in Pathol. & Microbiol. (ed. 2) ii. 110 Since unrelated animals show many differences in their MHC molecules, T cells (other than those involved in graft rejection) are often unable to recognise antigens presented on the surface of foreign cells of a different MHC type. 1994Economist 17 Dec. 98/3 T-cells can ‘see’ tumour antigens only when they are presented to them by another group of surface molecules, HLA molecules. 1997G. S. Helfman et al. Diversity of Fishes vii. 97/1 In many cases, macrophages assist in the activation of B cells by ingesting pathogens, partially digesting them, and presenting antigenic components of the pathogen on the surface of the macrophage. 2003Current Opinion Immunol. 15 95/1 CD1 molecules control diverse immune functions by presenting self and non-self lipid antigens to T lymphocytes. |