presencen.

Brit.

/ˈprɛzns/, U.S.

/ˈprɛzns/

Forms: Middle English precence, Middle English precens, Middle English precense, Middle English presance, Middle English presaunce, Middle English prescence, Middle English prescens, Middle English–1500s presens, Middle English–1500s presense, Middle English– presence, 1500s pressens, 1500s prezens, 1500s–1600s praesence, 1600s praesens; Scottish pre-1700 praesence, pre-1700 precence, pre-1700 presance, pre-1700 presenes, pre-1700 presens, pre-1700 presense, pre-1700 1700s– presence, 1800s preesence, 1800s– praisence.

Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French presence; Latin praesentia.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman presence, presens and Old French, Middle French presence, Middle French presance (French présence ) fact or condition of being present (beginning of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman with reference to God's presence, c1165 in Old French with reference to human beings, c1230 with reference to inanimate objects), (with possessive pronoun) person (second half of the 15th cent. or earlier, originally as a respectful form of address), external appearance of a person or thing (1530), impressive bearing of a person (late 16th cent.) and its etymon classical Latin praesentia fact of being present, helpful or powerful presence, in post-classical Latin also bodily presense of Christ (4th or 5th cent.; < praesent- , praesēns present adj. + -ia -ia suffix¹; compare -ence suffix). Compare Old Occitan presencia , presensa , pressensa , etc. (12th cent.; Occitan preséncia ), Catalan presència (14th cent.), Spanish presencia (late 12th cent.; frequently in legal documents in the formula en presencia de : see note below), Portuguese presença (14th cent.; 13th cent. as †presencia ), Italian presenza (end of the 12th or first half of the 13th cent. as †presencia , †presentia , †presenzia ), all earliest in sense ‘fact of being present’. Compare also (ultimately < Latin, partly via French) Middle Dutch, Dutch presentie , †presencie , Middle Low German prēsentie , prēsencie , prēsens . Compare present n.¹The following senses of the French word parallel English senses, but are first attested (sometimes considerably) later: bodily presence of Christ in the Eucharist (1575 in Middle French as †reale presence , 1643 as présence réelle ; compare sense 1c), persons who are present collectively, audience (a1544 in Middle French; compare sense 3), fact of playing a political role in a country or region (1948; compare sense 7a). With the phrases at senses 1a and 2a compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French en presence de (c1165 in Old French; French en présence de ), Anglo-Norman en sa presence before him (early 15th cent. or earlier), Middle French en leurs presences before them (end of the 15th cent. or earlier), and also Old Occitan en presensa , en presensa de (13th cent.; compare denan vostra pressensa in your presence (mid 12th cent.)), Spanish en presencia de (late 12th cent.). With to be in presence (compare in presence at Phrases 2) compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French estre en presence (c1250 in Old French; French être en présence ). In this presence at Phrases 1 arising from confusion of plural forms of present n.¹ with presence (compare earlier present n.¹ 3b, these presents at present n.¹ 3b, and the Older Scots plural forms in -ans, -ens cited at that entry).

a. The fact or condition of being present; the state of being with or in the same place as a person or thing; attendance, company, society, or association. Usually with of or possessive indicating the person or thing that is present.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > place > presence > [noun]

presencea1325

presencea1475

assistance1528

presentness1530

presency1542

presentiality1651

presentialness1689

the world > space > place > presence > [noun] > person or thing that is present > those present

presencea1325

appearance1599

parado1625

turn-out1816

show-up1824

attendance1835

a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) vii. 49 Ȝif þer be istablist certein dai ant stude in þe schire in presense of boþe parties.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 161 (MED) Þe zixte comþ of..blisse of þe presense of Iesu crist.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 229^v Genesta haþ þat name of bitternes..Presens þer of is witnesse þat þe grounde is bareyn and drye.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 3163 (MED) Displese it nat, nor to ȝour worþines, In presence of ȝour maieste Þat I schal seyn.

?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 357 (MED) Myche more owe I..syn ye wern born god and man of my bodye, to desyre yowre presens.

a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xvii. 48 The folke that i visitid noght with bodily presens.

c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxi. 211 Ye shall se Huon, whose presence ye so sore desyre.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccxxxj Hys presence and persone is to them ryghte acceptable.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. vi. 24 By Aversion, we signifie the Absence; and by Hate, the Presence of the Object.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1321 Our Law forbids at thir Religious Rites My presence; for that cause I cannot come.

1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iv. x. 150 I may add..that my Presence often gave them sufficient Matter for Discourse.

1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xvii. 2 They were seldom honoured with the presence of their new sovereign.

1839 H. T. De la Beche Rep. Geol. Cornwall ii. 31 The junction of the..rocks..is marked by the presence of a conglomerate with a calcareo-magnesian cement.

1893 H. P. Liddon et al. Life E. B. Pusey I. xii. 288 Pusey..delighted in the presence of God manifested in nature.

1904 G. K. Chesterton Napoleon of Notting Hill ii. ii. 88 Inconvenience had been caused him by the presence of the halberdiers, whom he had to take with him everywhere.

1949 M. Mead Male & Female xvi. 328 We are a gregarious people, needing the presence of others to give us a full sense of ourselves.

1987 R. Mistry Lend me your Light in Tales from Firozsha Baag 188 A smart pair of chappals with little heels that rang out her presence on the stairs and in the hallway.

2003 N.Y. Mag. 10 Feb. 68/1 (advt.) A new blood test that detects the presence of the hormone BNP (beta natiuretic peptide) is working its wonders in the ER.

b. An instance of being present.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > place > presence > [noun]

presencea1325

presencea1475

assistance1528

presentness1530

presency1542

presentiality1651

presentialness1689

a1475 ( S. Scrope tr. Dicts & Sayings Philosophers (Bodl. 943) (1999) 274 (MED) Conuerse so with the peple, that thei may coueite and desire thi presences.

1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. Cc.ii^v Not euery smoke dothe proue a presence of the fire.

a1635 R. Sibbes Miracle of Miracles (1638) ii. 10 There were divers presences of Christ, before hee came.

1845 D. W. Jerrold Time works Wonders i. 6 The baronet's a man who throughout this world sees but two objects—rank and wealth. They are to him the only rightful presences of this earth; all things else mere things of sufferance.

1888 M. Arnold Ess. Crit. 2nd Ser. 210 His eye was not fascinated by the presences of mountains and the sea.

1908 W. Bateson Methods & Scope Genetics 11 The conception..of the individual as composed of what we call presences and absences of all the possible ingredients..is the basis of all progress in genetic analysis.

1995 P. Fuery Theory of Absence i. 4 In the context of multiple, almost excessive, presences Sartre finds an absence, a nothing. This absence is only found, however, because a presence was expected.

c. spec. Theology. With reference to the manner in which Christ is held to be present in the Eucharist. Cf. real presence n.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > worship > sacrament > communion > eucharistic doctrines > presence of Christ in communion > [noun]

presence1547

c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 1438 When they sy the bodyly presence of that hooly Eukaryst, lowly gan they lowte.]

1547 J. Bale Lattre Examinacyon A. Askewe 23 And Pagett here compareth Christes presence in the sacrament, to the kynges presence.

1552 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16280.5) Administr. Lordes Supper (Declar. on Kneeling) sig. O.i^v It is not ment thereby [sc. kneeling], that any adoracion is doen..vnto any reall and essenciall presence there beyng [1662 any Corporal Presence], of Christes naturall fleshe and bloude.

1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 979/1 This same presence may be called moste fitly, a reall presence, that is a presence not fained, but a true & a faythfull presence.

1610 R. Field Fifth Bk. of Church App. i. 34 The true presence of Christs body & blood in the blessed Sacrament.

1687 J. Basset Reason 90 In the year 787..these..Greeks..were grown..so extreamly fond of this new Doctrine, concerning the Corporal Presence of Christ in the Sacrament.

1722 J. Richardson Acct. Statues Italy 205 The Eucharistical Presence..is express'd by the Host in the Golden Ostensorio on the Altar.

1798 J. Hey Lect. Divinity IV. iv. xxviii. §10. 325 (note) Luther is said to have given up this ubiquity as a proof of Christ's corporal presence in the Eucharist.

1851 S. Wilberforce in R. G. Wilberforce Life S. Wilberforce (1881) II. iii. 105 This seems to me wholly different from speaking of the ‘Presence’ as the result of the faith of the receiver.

1875 Ld. Tennyson Queen Mary i. ii. 9 You do not own The bodily presence in the Eucharist, Their wafer and perpetual sacrifice.

1903 J. P. Whitney in Cambr. Mod. Hist. II. x. 332 In spite of varying views as to the exact nature of the Presence, its reality had always been admitted.

1932 Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) 23 June 1/4 A million men, women and children knelt in affirmation of Christ's bodily presence in the Holy Eucharist—the consecrated bread and wine.

2003 Sunday Mail (Queensland, Austral.) (Nexis) 30 Mar. 52 These reforms included..changes in emphasis which appear to traditionalists to have watered down key elements of faith, such as the actual presence of Christ's body in the Eucharist.

a. The place or space in front of or around a person; the immediate vicinity of a person; the company or society of someone. Frequently with reference to ceremonial or formal attendance on a distinguished, esp. royal, person. Usually preceded by a preposition.Usually with of, possessive, or other modification indicating the identity of the person. Where there is no such modification, there is usually the implication of royal authority (see, e.g., quot. 1889); cf. in (the) presence at Phrases 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > place > presence > [noun] > person or thing that is present

presencec1330

presentc1330

standera1500

Johnny-on-the-spot1880

presentee1892

ever-present1903

the world > space > place > presence > [noun] > a person's presence or immediate surroundings

presencec1330

presentc1330

facea1398

presency1542

c1330 Seven Sages (Auch.) (1933) 196 Þat emperour het..þat þai bringge him sket To Rome toun to his presens.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. 389 He..goth to aproche The kinges Court and his presence.

a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 5441 (MED) First sal þair awen conscience Accuse þam þan in Cristes presence.

c1500 Melusine (1895) 322 Thenne came tofore the presence of Raymondyn the barons of the land.

c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxx. 240 The duke caused them to appere before the kynges presence.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke xv. f. cij Ioye shalbe in the presence off the angels off God over one synner that repentheth.

c1600 J. Leach in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Lit. Men (1843) (Camden) 74 Peregrination from the præsens of your Worship.

1620 tr. G. Boccaccio Decameron II. vii. ix. f. 50 Such dalliances are..fitter for the priuate Chamber, then an open garden, and in the presence of a seruant.

1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 20 The King of China gives not presence, but rarely at the great suit of his people.

1690 J. Crowne Eng. Frier v. 47 Madam, speak to the Ladies now I am here, to let down their Trains, 'tis not manners in the presence of a man o' my quality, to cock up their tayls.

1766 G. G. Beekman Let. 7 May in Beekman Mercantile Papers (1956) 498 I told you in the presence of my Son.

1769 H. Brooke Fool of Quality IV. xvii. 208 The queen, at the upper end, was seated under a canopy... The master of the ceremonies..led Harry up to the presence.

1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. xxviii. 92 (note) A man, who even in his presence would swear by Jupiter.

1809 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. I. i. v. 61 The five..monsters, which we have brought into this august presence.

1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 81 Being admitted to his presence they saluted him in that queen's name.

1883 R. Broughton Belinda II. v. 269 Is this, then, what she has called him back for? To tell him that he must not venture into her presence again?

1889 Daily News 28 June 5/8 Eight-and-twenty gentlemen,..bent low to receive them, and backed out of the Presence as best they could with their prizes.

1915 F. H. Burnett Lost Prince i. 10 The few people they saw treated him with a sort of deference, and nearly always stood when they were in his presence, unless he bade them sit down.

1974 B. Emecheta Second Class Citizen ii. 32 Wives cried in the presence of their departing husbands, not when they had gone and could not see the tears!

1999 I. S. Robinson Henry IV of Germany iii. 130 The return of Rudolf, together with the dukes of Carinthia and Bavaria, to the king's presence..signalled precisely the change at court for which the papacy..had been hoping.

†b. Short for presence chamber n. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > room by type of use > [noun] > audience-chamber

chamber of presence1538

presence1548

presence chamber1551

audience chamber1625

salutatory1641

salle d'audiencec1660

presence room1690

durbar1793

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. lxxxvi Shortly after was made in Westmynster hall a scaffolde for the lordes and a presence for a Iudge railed and counter railed about, and barred with degrees.

1607 T. Middleton Phoenix sig. I^v Stand close, the presence fils, heere, heere the place.

1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. i. 17 And't please your Grace, the two great Cardinals Wait in the presence .

1733 A. Pope Impertinent 14 The Presence seems, with things so richly odd, The mosque of Mahound, or some queer Pa-god.

†3. concrete. Those who are present; a number of people assembled together; an assembly, a company. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > of people or animals > regarded as a whole or a body of people gathered

weredc725

trumec893

thrumOE

wharfOE

flockOE

farec1275

lithc1275

ferd1297

companyc1300

flotec1300

routc1300

rowc1300

turbc1330

body1340

numberc1350

congregation1382

presencec1390

meiniec1400

storec1400

sum1400

manya1425

collegec1430

peoplec1449

schoola1450

turm1483

catervea1492

garrison?a1513

shoal1579

troop1584

bevy1604

roast1608

horde1613

gross1617

rhapsody1654

sortment1710

tribe1715

c1390 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 675 A voys was herd in general audience And seyde, ‘Thow hast disclaundred giltelees The doghter of holy chirche in heigh presence.’

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. 4007 (MED) Pirrus was made knyȝt..in ful hiȝe presence With gret honour and due reuerence.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 4560 When all the pepull were pesit, þe presens full still, Calcas to the kynges carpes thies wordes.

1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 216 Suche persones..forgetten theimselfes..& maken all the presence to laughe at theim.

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 529 Heere is like to be a good presence of Worthies.

1624 R. Montagu Immediate Addresse sig. Aij^v I preached in English, vnto an English Auditorie, though composed then of Royall and Noble presence.

1675 N. Grew Compar. Anat. Trunks ii. iv. 65 In this Honourable and Learned Presence, I have formerly had occasion to Demonstrate.

1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels I. 192 Choosing to..have his first Presence composed, of a few humble Shepherds.

1788 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) II. 462 The presence was so numerous, that little could be caught of what they said to the King.

1857 Times 3 July 11/2 The comparative inaccessibility of old ‘Harrow-on-the-Hill’..did not prevent a large presence of spectators, or rather auditors, at the celebration yesterday.

a. With possessive: a person's self or embodied personality.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > [noun] > person of > presence of

in (the) presencea1393

presence1728

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iii. 1948 (MED) Agamenoun..For causes gret, his presence..with-helde.

?1435 ( J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 634 Wher that euer shewith [read she shewith] here precence, She bryngeth gladnes to citees and tovns.

a1500 (?c1425) Speculum Sacerdotale (1936) 185 (MED) Lo, God haþ noȝt þen deceyued me, scilicet, to want youre presences.

a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) i. i. 377 Your Royall presences be rul'd by mee.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 28 As in a fiery column charioting His Godlike presence .

1728 A. Pope Dunciad i. 207 Her ample presence fills up all the place.

1770 J. Armstrong Misc. I. iv. 98 His easy presence check'd no decent joy.

1821 P. B. Shelley Epipsychidion 20 And from her presence life was radiated Through the grey earth and branches bare and dead.

1844 E. B. Browning Lost Bower xviii And the blue-bell's purple presence signed it worthily across.

1864 L. M. Alcott On Picket Duty 77 Like a ray of sunshine, the boy's tranquil presence lit up that poor home.

1904 H. James Golden Bowl II. xxx. 115 It [sc. the light]..had accumulated..round Mrs. Assingham's ample presence.

1936 E. Goudge City of Bells vii. 164 His serene presence smoothed away all disagreement.

1981 E. Jolley Newspaper Claremont St. (1987) i. 1 ‘Well, and 'ow are we?’, she called out, arriving with great noise, filling untidy kitchens with her presence.

1998 D. Hecht Skull Session i. iv. 31 Lia's presence was sweet, silky, luminous. Balm that soothed the jagged, ticcish energy the day had stirred up.

b. A person or thing that is physically present, esp. a person of impressive or imposing appearance or bearing.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > [noun] > with reference to appearance

figurea1325

personagea1522

presence1705

spectre1807

the world > space > place > presence > [noun] > person or thing that is present > a person who is corporeally present

presence1705

1705 R. Blackmore Eliza iii. 63 Dauntless Parmensis, who to Arms innur'd, Had long the Sight of Camps and Courts endur'd, Turn'd of his dazled Eyes, not wont to see So great a Presence, so much Majesty.

1734 T. Cooke tr. Terence Eunuch ii. vii, in tr. Terence Comedys II. 271 Parmeno. What's your Lass? Chaerea. Such a Presence as never Eyes beheld! Parmeno. O! wonderful! Chaerea. Her Complexion natural, her Body sound, and full of Juice.

1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey I. ii. xiii. 184 In an awkward retreat to make way for the approaching presence.

1847 W. Wordsworth Ode Install. Prince Albert (ad fin.) That Presence fair and bright,..The pride of the Islands, Victoria the Queen.

1871 R. Browning Balaustion 111 And over him, who stood but Herakles? There smiled the mighty presence, all one smile.

1924 A. D. Sedgwick Little French Girl iii. iii. 245 Ruth had become a rather overwhelming presence.

1978 M. Amis Success viii. 160 There she was beside me, a warm downy presence.

1999 H. Redknapp & D. McGovern 'Arry (new ed.) ix. 128 He led the line well, he was a presence in the dressing room, he put himself about for us, and opposing defenders hated playing against him.

a. Demeanour, carriage, esp. when stately or impressive; nobleness or handsomeness of bearing or appearance, esp. the capacity to project or suggest inner strength, force of personality, etc., merely by being present.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > [noun] > demeanour or bearing > especially as striking in appearance

presence1570

style1827

the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > splendour, magnificence, or pomp > [noun]

prideOE

nobleyec1300

farec1330

pompc1330

statec1330

rialtya1375

estatec1385

lordliness1440

pompousness1447

noblenessc1450

worthinessc1450

pomperyc1460

affairc1480

gloryc1480

majesty1481

triumpha1513

shine?1529

royalness?1548

sumptuosity1550

triumphing1569

magnificie1570

presence1570

gite1589

equipage1612

majesticalness1613

ceremonya1616

splendour1616

stateliness1637

majesticnessa1643

scheme1647

pageantry1651

grandeur1652

splendidnessa1657

magnanimity1658

magnificency1668

fluster1676

energy1764

pompa1783

panoply1790

pageanting1873

1570 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Morall Fabillis (Charteris) sig. Niii^v Ane fals intent vnder ane fair presence [?a1500 pretence].

1579 G. Puttenham Partheniades in Arte Eng. Poesie viii Affable grace, speeche eloquent, and wise; Stately præsence, suche as becometh one Whoe seemes to rule realmes by her lookes alone.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iii. ii. 167 Her faire sister..Of such inchanting presence and discourse.

1660 S. Pepys Diary 22 Nov. (1970) I. 299 The Queen, a very little plain old woman and nothing more in her presence..then any ordinary woman.

1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting I. vi. 124 More was a man of a stately and handsome presence.

1783 H. Blair Lect. Rhetoric II. 227 A strong, lively, and warm imagination; quick sensibility of heart, joined with solid judgment..supported also by the exterior, yet important qualifications, of a graceful manner, a presence not ungainly, and a full and tuneable voice.

1861 J. Brown Horæ Subsecivæ 2nd Ser. II. 65 He must have what is called a ‘presence’..his outward man must communicate..at once and without fail, something of indwelling power.

1899 J. G. Millais Life & Lett. Sir J. E. Millais I. i. 1 He was a man of fine presence and undeniable talent.

1905 Baroness Orczy Scarlet Pimpernel v. 44 Tall, above the average, with magnificent presence and regal figure, it is small wonder that even the Comtesse paused for a moment in involuntary admiration.

1959 Sunday Times 18 Jan. 16/8 For a painter to have a presence is already an achievement. By ‘presence’ I mean the variously-definable something that bids a visitor pause and is one of the signs of greatness.

1977 ‘E. Anthony’ Silver Falcon vii. 135 The chestnut..had that indefinable quality known in the horse world as presence.

1996 H. K. Smith Events leading up to my Death lxxiii. 353 We were much taken with her presence and beauty.

†b. The carriage or posture of the body in dancing. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > dancing > movements or steps > [noun] > carriage of body

presence1706

attitude1721

plastique1884

1706 J. Weaver Art Dancing 3 The Posture or Presence of the Body, is to have respect to that part of the Room, to which the Face or Fore-part of the Body is directed.

6. A person or thing that exists or is present in a place but is not seen, esp. a divine, spiritual, or incorporeal being or influence felt or perceived to be present.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > [noun] > other types of spirit

fury1574

astral spirits1647

ardour1667

presence1667

Willa1718

rolling calf1845

Stella Maris1876

tommyknocker1895

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 144 To whom the sovran Presence thus repli'd. Was shee thy God, that her thou didst obey Before his voice.

1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity i, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 418 How can good angels be in Heaven confin'd, Or view that Presence which no space can bind?

1798 W. Wordsworth Lines Tintern Abbey in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 207 And I have felt A presence that disturbs me with the joy Of elevated thoughts.

1857–8 E. H. Sears Athanasia vi. 48 Divine and celestial presences.

1874 J. Parker Paraclete i. ii. 17 He caused Himself to be succeeded by an eternal Presence, ‘even the Spirit of Truth, which abideth for ever’.

1931 A. Uttley Country Child x. 123 A feeling of a presence came upon her, as if the ghosts of all the Garlands who had lived there had been sitting chatting round the hearth.

1989 Q Dec. 81/1 There was definitely a presence, and a friend of mine who is a medium came to the flat..and said, It's here.

1992 Independent 1 Feb. (Mag.) 36 Visions of an insular, well-wooded landscape seen as through a looking-glass darkly and permeated with anxieties and haunting presences.

a. Politics. Personnel, esp. armed forces, maintained in another country or region for the furtherance of a nation's political interests and influence; (also) the representation of a nation's interests in any diplomatic or geopolitical context.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > war > militarism > [noun] > military presence

presence1856

society > authority > rule or government > politics > international politics or relations > [noun] > maintenance of interest or influence

presence1856

1856 Times 12 June 10/6 The Austrian presence would unquestionably operate as a check on freedom of election.

1857 Times 4 Mar. 7/6 The removal of a military presence..from the districts overrun last year by the Hak-ka men has exposed these to a repetition of a calamity in more aggravated form.

1884 Times 13 Sept. 7/6 The central Government at Pekin will go on much the same as ever, shutting its eyes to the fact of the French presence at certain ports.

1899 M. H. Kingsley W. Afr. Stud. xi. 264 After the fifteenth century it is not needful now to discuss in detail the subject of the French presence in West Africa.

1927 K. Mayo Mother India v. xxv. 352 Advantages which..had their roots in the British presence and would be drowned in blood on the day that presence was withdrawn.

1940 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 8 Dec. 6 b/7 Arguments for and against the United States' political presence in the Far East.

1963 Ann. Reg. 1962 319 An effective United Nations ‘presence’ in South West Africa.

1966 Punch 22 June 898/1 The Americans have a presence of 380,000 men in Vietnam alone, and regard that as barely enough.

2005 Boston Globe (Nexis) 8 July a 18 As long as the US government maintains a military presence in Iraq, the guerrilla war will escalate and more people will be killed.

b. The representation of a body, group, or organization by attendance in a particular place or context; (Business) the representation of a company (through trading activity) in a specific market or geographical area.

ΚΠ

1902 Times 11 Sept. 10/3 Such a presence [sc. of young people in the House of Commons] would restrain many an oratorical flight.

1923 Iowa City (Iowa) Press-Citizen 30 Jan. 5/1 She favored the guarding of such hills by roping off, by police presence, or otherwise.

1970 Times 1 Sept. 16/5 It was decided that B.S.C. should establish ‘a presence’ in North America.

1977 Time 10 Oct. 11/3 Working out a formula that would allow some Palestinian presence at Geneva was the focus all week long of intense bargaining.

1988 Creative Rev. Jan. 8/1 Saatchi & Saatchi is stepping up its design presence in Britain.

1993 T. Etchells Bill (Thames TV script) (O.E.D. Archive) Episode 507. 5/3 (story synopsis) Heavy police presence as White is frog marched to Carver's car... White is booked in. Woods is surprised at the volume of police.

2005 Brit. Life Jan.–Feb. 12/2 The rollcall of ceramic companies that have a presence in Stoke-on-Trent is extensive.

8. Sound Recording. A quality in reproduced sound that gives a listener the impression that the recorded activity is occurring in the listener's presence. Also: the ability to pick out an individual component of the sound, or to assign a direction from which the sound appears to emanate (rare).

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > record > recording or reproducing sound or visual material > sound recording and reproduction > [noun] > quality of reproduced sound

scratch1908

quality1913

surface noise1914

coloration1925

ambient noise1926

wow1932

pre-echo1935

hangover1940

presence1950

ambience1953

naturalness1966

overhang1971

1950 Audio Engin. Sept. 33 In motion picture work presence refers to the lack of localization of the reproduced sound, so that the eye is beguiled into believing that the sound issues from the location the eye follows... A second use of the term presence indicates the degree of intimacy achieved... A third type of presence is detail presence, in which an auditor is able to pick out an individual instrument or soloist, and more or less easily follow its melodic line throughout the changing mass of sound.

1957 IRE Trans. Audio 5 106/2 If the need for great ‘presence’ calls for a very close microphone position, the reproduction may cause a solo instrument to sound much too large.

1974 P. K. Harvey & K. J. Bohlman Stereo F.M. Radio Handbk. v. 127 (caption) Curves showing prominence given to mid-range and bass frequencies by the presence control.

1988 V. Capel Audio & Hi-Fi Engineer's Pocket Bk. 36 Fidelity is good, but the mass of the coil and cone produce a resonance between 2–5 kHz giving a peak in the response of several dB. Some makers euphemistically describe this as a presence effect because it emphasises ambient noises which tend to be in this frequency band.

1990 Gramophone May 1976/1 I have few other reservations about the recorded sound, which in a natural acoustic has a good feeling of presence and clean directional effects.

Phrases

†P1. this presence: the present writing or document; = present n.¹ 3b. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > writing > written text > [noun] > indication of present document or writing itself

these presentsc1379

this presence1464

this present1509

1464 Rolls of Parl. V. 544/1 Expresse mencyon of the verey yerly valure..in this presence is not made.

1576 G. Pettie Petite Pallace 186 You shal not enter into colorick conceites against me, for publishing in this presence, a hystorie whiche seemeth so mutch to sounde to the shame of your sexe.

1617 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 165 The..writinge before in this presence conteyned.

a1626 L. Andrewes Of Right of Tithes (1647) 26 I should offend against the time, and against you, if I should produce any more of these mens trifles in this presence; nor would any pleasure accrue, from thence, to you, nor advantage to the cause.

P2. in (the) presence: in attendance on or audience with a distinguished, esp. royal, person; (formerly also occasionally) in good company, in society (obsolete). Also (expressing motion) †into presence. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > place > presence > present [phrase]

in (also into, intil, to) present?c1225

in (the) presencea1393

in placea1400

upon the place1600

in evidence1612

to the fore1637

on (also upon) hand (also hands)1835

sur place1915

on-site1946

on the ground1960

society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > [noun] > person of > presence of

in (the) presencea1393

presence1728

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 2065 (MED) Ther was a worthi povere kniht, Which cam..forto sein His cause..Wher Julius was in presence.

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 982 (MED) He..Makis a crie þat all þe curte, kniȝtis & erles, Suld put þaim in-to presens [a1500 Trin. Dub. come & be present] his precep to here.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 20 For auld storys..Representis..ye dedys Of stalwart folk yat lywyt ar Rycht as yai yan in presence war.

?1518 A. Barclay Fyfte Eglog sig. Avii Thus all the chyldren, than beynge in presence He set in honour, and rowme of excellence.

1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) 14 And preis ȝow ay in presens to repair.

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iv. i. 53 Tis very true you were in presence then, And you can witnes with me this is true.

1656 R. Vines Treat. Inst. Lords-Supper xxx. 339 So we would say of one whose carriage is wanton and loose in the presence of his fathers corpse lying in presence in a coffin or beer, you doe not minde, you consider not who lies there.

1754 E. Burt Lett. N. Scotl. I. ix. 214 They would not have done it in the Presence at St. James's.

1904 H. James Golden Bowl II. xxx. 104 She had not again, for weeks, had Mrs. Assingham so effectually in presence as on the afternoon of that lady's return.

P3.

chamber of presence n. [compare later presence chamber n.] now historical and rare a place prepared for ceremonial attendance; a presence chamber.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > room by type of use > [noun] > audience-chamber

chamber of presence1538

presence1548

presence chamber1551

audience chamber1625

salutatory1641

salle d'audiencec1660

presence room1690

durbar1793

1538 J. Husee Let. 3 Jan. in State Papers Henry VIII (P.R.O.: SP 1/128) f. 29 I was within the Chambre of presens.

1565 Earl of Bedford in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. II. 210 David [Rizzio] was thruste owte of the Cabinet thorowe the bede chamber into the Chamber of Presens.

1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1582/1 Hir Maiesties most gratious answer, deliuered by hir selfe..in hir chamber of presence at Richmond.

c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1643 (1955) II. 91 He had Audience of the Fr: King..in the Golden Chamber of Presence.

1701 M. Pope Pract. Disc. Loving Kindness God iv. 158 Will not the Soul be fully perswaded that the Love of God, is better than his past Life, when it shall be Translated unto the Third Heaven, The Imperial Court of God, his Chamber of presence.

1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iii. ii. 18 We entred the Palace, and proceeded into the Chamber of Presence.

1761 J. Hawkesworth Almoran & Hamet I. vi. 73 He returned to the chamber of presence, and having received permission, he entered with Almeida in his hand.

1877 C. M. Yonge Cameos cxxxiv, in Monthly Packet Mar. 207 He was led into the chamber of presence.

1900 W. Alexander Finding of Bk. 158 The Apriling green of the branches They give earth the gift of a voice. From Thy lofty chamber of Presence Thou makest the mountain to drink.

1962 E. Sitwell Queens & Hive li. 365 In the Chamber of Presence, a Chair of State with a canopy, representing the throne, had been placed at one end of the room.

P4.

presence of mind n. [after classical Latin praesentia animī; compare French présence d'esprit (1656)] the ability to remain calm and take quick, sensible action, esp. in an emergency or in a difficult situation; freedom from embarrassment, agitation, or panic. Cf. present adj. 4.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > calmness > self-possession or self-control > [noun]

repressiona1413

governailc1425

willc1480

self-rule1532

coldness1548

stay1556

presentness of mind1598

coolness1607

cold blooda1609

temper1611

self-discipline1612

retention?1615

presence of mind?1624

self-governance1630

retentiveness1641

self-command1651

self-mastery1652

self-control1653

self-direction1653

self-restraint1656

self-possession1665

possessednessa1698

self-regulation1698

possession1703

retenue1747

sang-froid1750

self-collection1761

render1768

self-collectedness1805

self-repression1821

self-containedness1835

unimpulsiveness1860

cool-headedness1881

sophrosyne1889

cool1964

?1624 G. Chapman tr. Crowne Homers Wks. 116 But O thou euer-blessed! Giue me still, Presence of minde, to put in Act, my will Varied, as fits, to all Occasion.

1665 J. Spencer Disc. Vulgar Prophecies 38 Great courage and presence of mind.

1704 N. N. tr. T. Boccalini Advts. from Parnassus III. 96 The Commander..never wanted Presence of Mind in the most immergent Dangers.

1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison III. xix. 168 I had besides been led into a presence of mind, by being made a person of some consequence.

1792 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry I. i. 30 Teague, whose natural parts were not bad, and presence of mind considerable.

a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) IV. v. 95 She felt that she could so much more depend upon the sincerity of those who sometimes looked or said a careless or a hasty thing, than of those whose presence of mind never varied, whose tongue never slipped.

1883 J. G. McKendrick in Encycl. Brit. XV. 281/2 What is called ‘presence of mind’ really means that power of self-control which prevents the bodily energies being paralysed by strong sensory impressions.

1908 Westm. Gaz. 5 Mar. 12/1 We would both have been drowned had I not, with great presence of mind, hit him on the head with a boat-hook.

1948 S. J. Perelman Westward Ha! x. 130 With admirable presence of mind, they dragged me to a small surgery on the Corso, where my jaws were pried open with a sharp stick.

1996 Woman's Day (Sydney) 10 June 25/1 With courage and presence of mind, Kylie..drew on her gym training and kickboxing lessons to save her life.

Compounds

C1. General attributive and objective.

presence list n. [compare French feuille de présence (1793 or earlier)]

ΚΠ

1889 Harper's Mag. Mar. 506/2 M. Chevreul, the famous chemist, is invariably the first to sign the presence list, and the weather must be very severe indeed if the wonderful centenarian does not attend the meeting of his Academy.

1904 H. Hecht Songs from David Herd's MSS 47 The presence-lists show that Fergusson seldom missed the meetings of the Cape.

1992 Lit. & Ling. Computing 7 7 19/1 By word count and sorting programs, variously matched, it was possible to obtain from..texts a presence list which allows us to find out which forms are present in all twenty-six works.., which ones in twenty-five.., and so on.

presence-token n.

ΚΠ

1836 J. Keble in Lyra Apost. 164 Since holy Gabriel to meek Mary bore The presence-token of th' Incarnate Son.

1871 H. N. Oxenham Poems 34 Within the choir a faint unearthly smell Of incense brooded o'er the cloistral air, The presence-token of One who sojourned there.

presence-affirming adj.

ΚΠ

1829 J. Mill Anal. Human Mind II. xiv. 89 Presence-affirming Terms.

1984 Boundary 2 12 168 My look at Dickinson..relies most happily upon Sharon Cameron's complex but brilliantly responsive account of the poet's spell-binding, time-annihilating, ‘presence’-affirming ‘Lyric Time’.

C2.

† presence lobby n. Obsolete rare the lobby or anteroom of a presence chamber.

ΚΠ

1633 J. Ford Broken Heart ii. ii. sig. D3^v She sits i'th presence Lobby fast asleepe, Sir.

presence room n. = presence chamber n.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > room by type of use > [noun] > audience-chamber

chamber of presence1538

presence1548

presence chamber1551

audience chamber1625

salutatory1641

salle d'audiencec1660

presence room1690

durbar1793

1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. iii. 47 To convey them..to their Audience in the Brain, the Mind's Presence-Room.

1816 S. T. Coleridge Christabel ii. 31 The lovely maid and lady tall..pacing on thro' page and groom Enter the Baron's presence-room.

1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess i. 14 That morning in the presence room I stood With Cyril and with Florian, my two friends.

1925 Amer. Mercury Jan. 67/1 An ante-chamber and presence-room were provided.

2005 Evening News (Edinb.) (Nexis) 22 Sept. 21 In 1999, Historic Scotland won a top award..for the elaborate restoration work it had carried out on the ceilings of both the Laich Hall and the King's Presence Room.

Derivatives

ˈpresenceless adj.

ΚΠ

1877 I. D. Hardy Glencairn vi. xx It chilled him as if a presenceless voice had spoken.

1967 Artforum Summer 20/2 An uncompelling and presenceless kind of theater.

1991 St. Petersburg (Florida) Times (Nexis) 15 Dec. 6 d Even our narrator seems beside the point; the doctor's secret sharer..is literally presenceless. He is all spirit, and no body—a vehicle for an idea, nothing more.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	presence
释义	presencen. Brit. /ˈprɛzns/, U.S. /ˈprɛzns/ Forms: Middle English precence, Middle English precens, Middle English precense, Middle English presance, Middle English presaunce, Middle English prescence, Middle English prescens, Middle English–1500s presens, Middle English–1500s presense, Middle English– presence, 1500s pressens, 1500s prezens, 1500s–1600s praesence, 1600s praesens; Scottish pre-1700 praesence, pre-1700 precence, pre-1700 presance, pre-1700 presenes, pre-1700 presens, pre-1700 presense, pre-1700 1700s– presence, 1800s preesence, 1800s– praisence. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French presence; Latin praesentia. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman presence, presens and Old French, Middle French presence, Middle French presance (French présence ) fact or condition of being present (beginning of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman with reference to God's presence, c1165 in Old French with reference to human beings, c1230 with reference to inanimate objects), (with possessive pronoun) person (second half of the 15th cent. or earlier, originally as a respectful form of address), external appearance of a person or thing (1530), impressive bearing of a person (late 16th cent.) and its etymon classical Latin praesentia fact of being present, helpful or powerful presence, in post-classical Latin also bodily presense of Christ (4th or 5th cent.; < praesent- , praesēns present adj. + -ia -ia suffix¹; compare -ence suffix). Compare Old Occitan presencia , presensa , pressensa , etc. (12th cent.; Occitan preséncia ), Catalan presència (14th cent.), Spanish presencia (late 12th cent.; frequently in legal documents in the formula en presencia de : see note below), Portuguese presença (14th cent.; 13th cent. as †presencia ), Italian presenza (end of the 12th or first half of the 13th cent. as †presencia , †presentia , †presenzia ), all earliest in sense ‘fact of being present’. Compare also (ultimately < Latin, partly via French) Middle Dutch, Dutch presentie , †presencie , Middle Low German prēsentie , prēsencie , prēsens . Compare present n.¹The following senses of the French word parallel English senses, but are first attested (sometimes considerably) later: bodily presence of Christ in the Eucharist (1575 in Middle French as †reale presence , 1643 as présence réelle ; compare sense 1c), persons who are present collectively, audience (a1544 in Middle French; compare sense 3), fact of playing a political role in a country or region (1948; compare sense 7a). With the phrases at senses 1a and 2a compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French en presence de (c1165 in Old French; French en présence de ), Anglo-Norman en sa presence before him (early 15th cent. or earlier), Middle French en leurs presences before them (end of the 15th cent. or earlier), and also Old Occitan en presensa , en presensa de (13th cent.; compare denan vostra pressensa in your presence (mid 12th cent.)), Spanish en presencia de (late 12th cent.). With to be in presence (compare in presence at Phrases 2) compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French estre en presence (c1250 in Old French; French être en présence ). In this presence at Phrases 1 arising from confusion of plural forms of present n.¹ with presence (compare earlier present n.¹ 3b, these presents at present n.¹ 3b, and the Older Scots plural forms in -ans, -ens cited at that entry). 1. a. The fact or condition of being present; the state of being with or in the same place as a person or thing; attendance, company, society, or association. Usually with of or possessive indicating the person or thing that is present. ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > presence > [noun] presencea1325 presencea1475 assistance1528 presentness1530 presency1542 presentiality1651 presentialness1689 the world > space > place > presence > [noun] > person or thing that is present > those present presencea1325 appearance1599 parado1625 turn-out1816 show-up1824 attendance1835 a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) vii. 49 Ȝif þer be istablist certein dai ant stude in þe schire in presense of boþe parties. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 161 (MED) Þe zixte comþ of..blisse of þe presense of Iesu crist. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 229^v Genesta haþ þat name of bitternes..Presens þer of is witnesse þat þe grounde is bareyn and drye. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 3163 (MED) Displese it nat, nor to ȝour worþines, In presence of ȝour maieste Þat I schal seyn. ?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 357 (MED) Myche more owe I..syn ye wern born god and man of my bodye, to desyre yowre presens. a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xvii. 48 The folke that i visitid noght with bodily presens. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxi. 211 Ye shall se Huon, whose presence ye so sore desyre. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccxxxj Hys presence and persone is to them ryghte acceptable. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. vi. 24 By Aversion, we signifie the Absence; and by Hate, the Presence of the Object. 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1321 Our Law forbids at thir Religious Rites My presence; for that cause I cannot come. View more context for this quotation 1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iv. x. 150 I may add..that my Presence often gave them sufficient Matter for Discourse. 1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xvii. 2 They were seldom honoured with the presence of their new sovereign. 1839 H. T. De la Beche Rep. Geol. Cornwall ii. 31 The junction of the..rocks..is marked by the presence of a conglomerate with a calcareo-magnesian cement. 1893 H. P. Liddon et al. Life E. B. Pusey I. xii. 288 Pusey..delighted in the presence of God manifested in nature. 1904 G. K. Chesterton Napoleon of Notting Hill ii. ii. 88 Inconvenience had been caused him by the presence of the halberdiers, whom he had to take with him everywhere. 1949 M. Mead Male & Female xvi. 328 We are a gregarious people, needing the presence of others to give us a full sense of ourselves. 1987 R. Mistry Lend me your Light in Tales from Firozsha Baag 188 A smart pair of chappals with little heels that rang out her presence on the stairs and in the hallway. 2003 N.Y. Mag. 10 Feb. 68/1 (advt.) A new blood test that detects the presence of the hormone BNP (beta natiuretic peptide) is working its wonders in the ER. b. An instance of being present. ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > presence > [noun] presencea1325 presencea1475 assistance1528 presentness1530 presency1542 presentiality1651 presentialness1689 a1475 ( S. Scrope tr. Dicts & Sayings Philosophers (Bodl. 943) (1999) 274 (MED) Conuerse so with the peple, that thei may coueite and desire thi presences. 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. Cc.ii^v Not euery smoke dothe proue a presence of the fire. a1635 R. Sibbes Miracle of Miracles (1638) ii. 10 There were divers presences of Christ, before hee came. 1845 D. W. Jerrold Time works Wonders i. 6 The baronet's a man who throughout this world sees but two objects—rank and wealth. They are to him the only rightful presences of this earth; all things else mere things of sufferance. 1888 M. Arnold Ess. Crit. 2nd Ser. 210 His eye was not fascinated by the presences of mountains and the sea. 1908 W. Bateson Methods & Scope Genetics 11 The conception..of the individual as composed of what we call presences and absences of all the possible ingredients..is the basis of all progress in genetic analysis. 1995 P. Fuery Theory of Absence i. 4 In the context of multiple, almost excessive, presences Sartre finds an absence, a nothing. This absence is only found, however, because a presence was expected. c. spec. Theology. With reference to the manner in which Christ is held to be present in the Eucharist. Cf. real presence n. ΘΚΠ society > faith > worship > sacrament > communion > eucharistic doctrines > presence of Christ in communion > [noun] presence1547 c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 1438 When they sy the bodyly presence of that hooly Eukaryst, lowly gan they lowte.] 1547 J. Bale Lattre Examinacyon A. Askewe 23 And Pagett here compareth Christes presence in the sacrament, to the kynges presence. 1552 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16280.5) Administr. Lordes Supper (Declar. on Kneeling) sig. O.i^v It is not ment thereby [sc. kneeling], that any adoracion is doen..vnto any reall and essenciall presence there beyng [1662 any Corporal Presence], of Christes naturall fleshe and bloude. 1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 979/1 This same presence may be called moste fitly, a reall presence, that is a presence not fained, but a true & a faythfull presence. 1610 R. Field Fifth Bk. of Church App. i. 34 The true presence of Christs body & blood in the blessed Sacrament. 1687 J. Basset Reason 90 In the year 787..these..Greeks..were grown..so extreamly fond of this new Doctrine, concerning the Corporal Presence of Christ in the Sacrament. 1722 J. Richardson Acct. Statues Italy 205 The Eucharistical Presence..is express'd by the Host in the Golden Ostensorio on the Altar. 1798 J. Hey Lect. Divinity IV. iv. xxviii. §10. 325 (note) Luther is said to have given up this ubiquity as a proof of Christ's corporal presence in the Eucharist. 1851 S. Wilberforce in R. G. Wilberforce Life S. Wilberforce (1881) II. iii. 105 This seems to me wholly different from speaking of the ‘Presence’ as the result of the faith of the receiver. 1875 Ld. Tennyson Queen Mary i. ii. 9 You do not own The bodily presence in the Eucharist, Their wafer and perpetual sacrifice. 1903 J. P. Whitney in Cambr. Mod. Hist. II. x. 332 In spite of varying views as to the exact nature of the Presence, its reality had always been admitted. 1932 Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) 23 June 1/4 A million men, women and children knelt in affirmation of Christ's bodily presence in the Holy Eucharist—the consecrated bread and wine. 2003 Sunday Mail (Queensland, Austral.) (Nexis) 30 Mar. 52 These reforms included..changes in emphasis which appear to traditionalists to have watered down key elements of faith, such as the actual presence of Christ's body in the Eucharist. 2. a. The place or space in front of or around a person; the immediate vicinity of a person; the company or society of someone. Frequently with reference to ceremonial or formal attendance on a distinguished, esp. royal, person. Usually preceded by a preposition.Usually with of, possessive, or other modification indicating the identity of the person. Where there is no such modification, there is usually the implication of royal authority (see, e.g., quot. 1889); cf. in (the) presence at Phrases 2. ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > presence > [noun] > person or thing that is present presencec1330 presentc1330 standera1500 Johnny-on-the-spot1880 presentee1892 ever-present1903 the world > space > place > presence > [noun] > a person's presence or immediate surroundings presencec1330 presentc1330 facea1398 presency1542 c1330 Seven Sages (Auch.) (1933) 196 Þat emperour het..þat þai bringge him sket To Rome toun to his presens. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. 389 He..goth to aproche The kinges Court and his presence. a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 5441 (MED) First sal þair awen conscience Accuse þam þan in Cristes presence. c1500 Melusine (1895) 322 Thenne came tofore the presence of Raymondyn the barons of the land. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxx. 240 The duke caused them to appere before the kynges presence. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke xv. f. cij Ioye shalbe in the presence off the angels off God over one synner that repentheth. c1600 J. Leach in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Lit. Men (1843) (Camden) 74 Peregrination from the præsens of your Worship. 1620 tr. G. Boccaccio Decameron II. vii. ix. f. 50 Such dalliances are..fitter for the priuate Chamber, then an open garden, and in the presence of a seruant. 1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 20 The King of China gives not presence, but rarely at the great suit of his people. 1690 J. Crowne Eng. Frier v. 47 Madam, speak to the Ladies now I am here, to let down their Trains, 'tis not manners in the presence of a man o' my quality, to cock up their tayls. 1766 G. G. Beekman Let. 7 May in Beekman Mercantile Papers (1956) 498 I told you in the presence of my Son. 1769 H. Brooke Fool of Quality IV. xvii. 208 The queen, at the upper end, was seated under a canopy... The master of the ceremonies..led Harry up to the presence. 1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. xxviii. 92 (note) A man, who even in his presence would swear by Jupiter. 1809 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. I. i. v. 61 The five..monsters, which we have brought into this august presence. 1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 81 Being admitted to his presence they saluted him in that queen's name. 1883 R. Broughton Belinda II. v. 269 Is this, then, what she has called him back for? To tell him that he must not venture into her presence again? 1889 Daily News 28 June 5/8 Eight-and-twenty gentlemen,..bent low to receive them, and backed out of the Presence as best they could with their prizes. 1915 F. H. Burnett Lost Prince i. 10 The few people they saw treated him with a sort of deference, and nearly always stood when they were in his presence, unless he bade them sit down. 1974 B. Emecheta Second Class Citizen ii. 32 Wives cried in the presence of their departing husbands, not when they had gone and could not see the tears! 1999 I. S. Robinson Henry IV of Germany iii. 130 The return of Rudolf, together with the dukes of Carinthia and Bavaria, to the king's presence..signalled precisely the change at court for which the papacy..had been hoping. †b. Short for presence chamber n. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > room by type of use > [noun] > audience-chamber chamber of presence1538 presence1548 presence chamber1551 audience chamber1625 salutatory1641 salle d'audiencec1660 presence room1690 durbar1793 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. lxxxvi Shortly after was made in Westmynster hall a scaffolde for the lordes and a presence for a Iudge railed and counter railed about, and barred with degrees. 1607 T. Middleton Phoenix sig. I^v Stand close, the presence fils, heere, heere the place. 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. i. 17 And't please your Grace, the two great Cardinals Wait in the presence . View more context for this quotation 1733 A. Pope Impertinent 14 The Presence seems, with things so richly odd, The mosque of Mahound, or some queer Pa-god. †3. concrete. Those who are present; a number of people assembled together; an assembly, a company. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > of people or animals > regarded as a whole or a body of people gathered weredc725 trumec893 thrumOE wharfOE flockOE farec1275 lithc1275 ferd1297 companyc1300 flotec1300 routc1300 rowc1300 turbc1330 body1340 numberc1350 congregation1382 presencec1390 meiniec1400 storec1400 sum1400 manya1425 collegec1430 peoplec1449 schoola1450 turm1483 catervea1492 garrison?a1513 shoal1579 troop1584 bevy1604 roast1608 horde1613 gross1617 rhapsody1654 sortment1710 tribe1715 c1390 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 675 A voys was herd in general audience And seyde, ‘Thow hast disclaundred giltelees The doghter of holy chirche in heigh presence.’ c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. 4007 (MED) Pirrus was made knyȝt..in ful hiȝe presence With gret honour and due reuerence. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 4560 When all the pepull were pesit, þe presens full still, Calcas to the kynges carpes thies wordes. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 216 Suche persones..forgetten theimselfes..& maken all the presence to laughe at theim. 1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 529 Heere is like to be a good presence of Worthies. View more context for this quotation 1624 R. Montagu Immediate Addresse sig. Aij^v I preached in English, vnto an English Auditorie, though composed then of Royall and Noble presence. 1675 N. Grew Compar. Anat. Trunks ii. iv. 65 In this Honourable and Learned Presence, I have formerly had occasion to Demonstrate. 1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels I. 192 Choosing to..have his first Presence composed, of a few humble Shepherds. 1788 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) II. 462 The presence was so numerous, that little could be caught of what they said to the King. 1857 Times 3 July 11/2 The comparative inaccessibility of old ‘Harrow-on-the-Hill’..did not prevent a large presence of spectators, or rather auditors, at the celebration yesterday. 4. a. With possessive: a person's self or embodied personality. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > [noun] > person of > presence of in (the) presencea1393 presence1728 c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iii. 1948 (MED) Agamenoun..For causes gret, his presence..with-helde. ?1435 ( J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 634 Wher that euer shewith [read she shewith] here precence, She bryngeth gladnes to citees and tovns. a1500 (?c1425) Speculum Sacerdotale (1936) 185 (MED) Lo, God haþ noȝt þen deceyued me, scilicet, to want youre presences. a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) i. i. 377 Your Royall presences be rul'd by mee. View more context for this quotation 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 28 As in a fiery column charioting His Godlike presence . View more context for this quotation 1728 A. Pope Dunciad i. 207 Her ample presence fills up all the place. 1770 J. Armstrong Misc. I. iv. 98 His easy presence check'd no decent joy. 1821 P. B. Shelley Epipsychidion 20 And from her presence life was radiated Through the grey earth and branches bare and dead. 1844 E. B. Browning Lost Bower xviii And the blue-bell's purple presence signed it worthily across. 1864 L. M. Alcott On Picket Duty 77 Like a ray of sunshine, the boy's tranquil presence lit up that poor home. 1904 H. James Golden Bowl II. xxx. 115 It [sc. the light]..had accumulated..round Mrs. Assingham's ample presence. 1936 E. Goudge City of Bells vii. 164 His serene presence smoothed away all disagreement. 1981 E. Jolley Newspaper Claremont St. (1987) i. 1 ‘Well, and 'ow are we?’, she called out, arriving with great noise, filling untidy kitchens with her presence. 1998 D. Hecht Skull Session i. iv. 31 Lia's presence was sweet, silky, luminous. Balm that soothed the jagged, ticcish energy the day had stirred up. b. A person or thing that is physically present, esp. a person of impressive or imposing appearance or bearing. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > [noun] > with reference to appearance figurea1325 personagea1522 presence1705 spectre1807 the world > space > place > presence > [noun] > person or thing that is present > a person who is corporeally present presence1705 1705 R. Blackmore Eliza iii. 63 Dauntless Parmensis, who to Arms innur'd, Had long the Sight of Camps and Courts endur'd, Turn'd of his dazled Eyes, not wont to see So great a Presence, so much Majesty. 1734 T. Cooke tr. Terence Eunuch ii. vii, in tr. Terence Comedys II. 271 Parmeno. What's your Lass? Chaerea. Such a Presence as never Eyes beheld! Parmeno. O! wonderful! Chaerea. Her Complexion natural, her Body sound, and full of Juice. 1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey I. ii. xiii. 184 In an awkward retreat to make way for the approaching presence. 1847 W. Wordsworth Ode Install. Prince Albert (ad fin.) That Presence fair and bright,..The pride of the Islands, Victoria the Queen. 1871 R. Browning Balaustion 111 And over him, who stood but Herakles? There smiled the mighty presence, all one smile. 1924 A. D. Sedgwick Little French Girl iii. iii. 245 Ruth had become a rather overwhelming presence. 1978 M. Amis Success viii. 160 There she was beside me, a warm downy presence. 1999 H. Redknapp & D. McGovern 'Arry (new ed.) ix. 128 He led the line well, he was a presence in the dressing room, he put himself about for us, and opposing defenders hated playing against him. 5. a. Demeanour, carriage, esp. when stately or impressive; nobleness or handsomeness of bearing or appearance, esp. the capacity to project or suggest inner strength, force of personality, etc., merely by being present. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > [noun] > demeanour or bearing > especially as striking in appearance presence1570 style1827 the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > splendour, magnificence, or pomp > [noun] prideOE nobleyec1300 farec1330 pompc1330 statec1330 rialtya1375 estatec1385 lordliness1440 pompousness1447 noblenessc1450 worthinessc1450 pomperyc1460 affairc1480 gloryc1480 majesty1481 triumpha1513 shine?1529 royalness?1548 sumptuosity1550 triumphing1569 magnificie1570 presence1570 gite1589 equipage1612 majesticalness1613 ceremonya1616 splendour1616 stateliness1637 majesticnessa1643 scheme1647 pageantry1651 grandeur1652 splendidnessa1657 magnanimity1658 magnificency1668 fluster1676 energy1764 pompa1783 panoply1790 pageanting1873 1570 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Morall Fabillis (Charteris) sig. Niii^v Ane fals intent vnder ane fair presence [?a1500 pretence]. 1579 G. Puttenham Partheniades in Arte Eng. Poesie viii Affable grace, speeche eloquent, and wise; Stately præsence, suche as becometh one Whoe seemes to rule realmes by her lookes alone. a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iii. ii. 167 Her faire sister..Of such inchanting presence and discourse. View more context for this quotation 1660 S. Pepys Diary 22 Nov. (1970) I. 299 The Queen, a very little plain old woman and nothing more in her presence..then any ordinary woman. 1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting I. vi. 124 More was a man of a stately and handsome presence. 1783 H. Blair Lect. Rhetoric II. 227 A strong, lively, and warm imagination; quick sensibility of heart, joined with solid judgment..supported also by the exterior, yet important qualifications, of a graceful manner, a presence not ungainly, and a full and tuneable voice. 1861 J. Brown Horæ Subsecivæ 2nd Ser. II. 65 He must have what is called a ‘presence’..his outward man must communicate..at once and without fail, something of indwelling power. 1899 J. G. Millais Life & Lett. Sir J. E. Millais I. i. 1 He was a man of fine presence and undeniable talent. 1905 Baroness Orczy Scarlet Pimpernel v. 44 Tall, above the average, with magnificent presence and regal figure, it is small wonder that even the Comtesse paused for a moment in involuntary admiration. 1959 Sunday Times 18 Jan. 16/8 For a painter to have a presence is already an achievement. By ‘presence’ I mean the variously-definable something that bids a visitor pause and is one of the signs of greatness. 1977 ‘E. Anthony’ Silver Falcon vii. 135 The chestnut..had that indefinable quality known in the horse world as presence. 1996 H. K. Smith Events leading up to my Death lxxiii. 353 We were much taken with her presence and beauty. †b. The carriage or posture of the body in dancing. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > dancing > movements or steps > [noun] > carriage of body presence1706 attitude1721 plastique1884 1706 J. Weaver Art Dancing 3 The Posture or Presence of the Body, is to have respect to that part of the Room, to which the Face or Fore-part of the Body is directed. 6. A person or thing that exists or is present in a place but is not seen, esp. a divine, spiritual, or incorporeal being or influence felt or perceived to be present. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > [noun] > other types of spirit fury1574 astral spirits1647 ardour1667 presence1667 Willa1718 rolling calf1845 Stella Maris1876 tommyknocker1895 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 144 To whom the sovran Presence thus repli'd. Was shee thy God, that her thou didst obey Before his voice. 1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity i, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 418 How can good angels be in Heaven confin'd, Or view that Presence which no space can bind? 1798 W. Wordsworth Lines Tintern Abbey in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 207 And I have felt A presence that disturbs me with the joy Of elevated thoughts. 1857–8 E. H. Sears Athanasia vi. 48 Divine and celestial presences. 1874 J. Parker Paraclete i. ii. 17 He caused Himself to be succeeded by an eternal Presence, ‘even the Spirit of Truth, which abideth for ever’. 1931 A. Uttley Country Child x. 123 A feeling of a presence came upon her, as if the ghosts of all the Garlands who had lived there had been sitting chatting round the hearth. 1989 Q Dec. 81/1 There was definitely a presence, and a friend of mine who is a medium came to the flat..and said, It's here. 1992 Independent 1 Feb. (Mag.) 36 Visions of an insular, well-wooded landscape seen as through a looking-glass darkly and permeated with anxieties and haunting presences. 7. a. Politics. Personnel, esp. armed forces, maintained in another country or region for the furtherance of a nation's political interests and influence; (also) the representation of a nation's interests in any diplomatic or geopolitical context. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > war > militarism > [noun] > military presence presence1856 society > authority > rule or government > politics > international politics or relations > [noun] > maintenance of interest or influence presence1856 1856 Times 12 June 10/6 The Austrian presence would unquestionably operate as a check on freedom of election. 1857 Times 4 Mar. 7/6 The removal of a military presence..from the districts overrun last year by the Hak-ka men has exposed these to a repetition of a calamity in more aggravated form. 1884 Times 13 Sept. 7/6 The central Government at Pekin will go on much the same as ever, shutting its eyes to the fact of the French presence at certain ports. 1899 M. H. Kingsley W. Afr. Stud. xi. 264 After the fifteenth century it is not needful now to discuss in detail the subject of the French presence in West Africa. 1927 K. Mayo Mother India v. xxv. 352 Advantages which..had their roots in the British presence and would be drowned in blood on the day that presence was withdrawn. 1940 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 8 Dec. 6 b/7 Arguments for and against the United States' political presence in the Far East. 1963 Ann. Reg. 1962 319 An effective United Nations ‘presence’ in South West Africa. 1966 Punch 22 June 898/1 The Americans have a presence of 380,000 men in Vietnam alone, and regard that as barely enough. 2005 Boston Globe (Nexis) 8 July a 18 As long as the US government maintains a military presence in Iraq, the guerrilla war will escalate and more people will be killed. b. The representation of a body, group, or organization by attendance in a particular place or context; (Business) the representation of a company (through trading activity) in a specific market or geographical area. ΚΠ 1902 Times 11 Sept. 10/3 Such a presence [sc. of young people in the House of Commons] would restrain many an oratorical flight. 1923 Iowa City (Iowa) Press-Citizen 30 Jan. 5/1 She favored the guarding of such hills by roping off, by police presence, or otherwise. 1970 Times 1 Sept. 16/5 It was decided that B.S.C. should establish ‘a presence’ in North America. 1977 Time 10 Oct. 11/3 Working out a formula that would allow some Palestinian presence at Geneva was the focus all week long of intense bargaining. 1988 Creative Rev. Jan. 8/1 Saatchi & Saatchi is stepping up its design presence in Britain. 1993 T. Etchells Bill (Thames TV script) (O.E.D. Archive) Episode 507. 5/3 (story synopsis) Heavy police presence as White is frog marched to Carver's car... White is booked in. Woods is surprised at the volume of police. 2005 Brit. Life Jan.–Feb. 12/2 The rollcall of ceramic companies that have a presence in Stoke-on-Trent is extensive. 8. Sound Recording. A quality in reproduced sound that gives a listener the impression that the recorded activity is occurring in the listener's presence. Also: the ability to pick out an individual component of the sound, or to assign a direction from which the sound appears to emanate (rare). ΘΚΠ society > communication > record > recording or reproducing sound or visual material > sound recording and reproduction > [noun] > quality of reproduced sound scratch1908 quality1913 surface noise1914 coloration1925 ambient noise1926 wow1932 pre-echo1935 hangover1940 presence1950 ambience1953 naturalness1966 overhang1971 1950 Audio Engin. Sept. 33 In motion picture work presence refers to the lack of localization of the reproduced sound, so that the eye is beguiled into believing that the sound issues from the location the eye follows... A second use of the term presence indicates the degree of intimacy achieved... A third type of presence is detail presence, in which an auditor is able to pick out an individual instrument or soloist, and more or less easily follow its melodic line throughout the changing mass of sound. 1957 IRE Trans. Audio 5 106/2 If the need for great ‘presence’ calls for a very close microphone position, the reproduction may cause a solo instrument to sound much too large. 1974 P. K. Harvey & K. J. Bohlman Stereo F.M. Radio Handbk. v. 127 (caption) Curves showing prominence given to mid-range and bass frequencies by the presence control. 1988 V. Capel Audio & Hi-Fi Engineer's Pocket Bk. 36 Fidelity is good, but the mass of the coil and cone produce a resonance between 2–5 kHz giving a peak in the response of several dB. Some makers euphemistically describe this as a presence effect because it emphasises ambient noises which tend to be in this frequency band. 1990 Gramophone May 1976/1 I have few other reservations about the recorded sound, which in a natural acoustic has a good feeling of presence and clean directional effects. Phrases †P1. this presence: the present writing or document; = present n.¹ 3b. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > written text > [noun] > indication of present document or writing itself these presentsc1379 this presence1464 this present1509 1464 Rolls of Parl. V. 544/1 Expresse mencyon of the verey yerly valure..in this presence is not made. 1576 G. Pettie Petite Pallace 186 You shal not enter into colorick conceites against me, for publishing in this presence, a hystorie whiche seemeth so mutch to sounde to the shame of your sexe. 1617 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 165 The..writinge before in this presence conteyned. a1626 L. Andrewes Of Right of Tithes (1647) 26 I should offend against the time, and against you, if I should produce any more of these mens trifles in this presence; nor would any pleasure accrue, from thence, to you, nor advantage to the cause. P2. in (the) presence: in attendance on or audience with a distinguished, esp. royal, person; (formerly also occasionally) in good company, in society (obsolete). Also (expressing motion) †into presence. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > presence > present [phrase] in (also into, intil, to) present?c1225 in (the) presencea1393 in placea1400 upon the place1600 in evidence1612 to the fore1637 on (also upon) hand (also hands)1835 sur place1915 on-site1946 on the ground1960 society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > [noun] > person of > presence of in (the) presencea1393 presence1728 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 2065 (MED) Ther was a worthi povere kniht, Which cam..forto sein His cause..Wher Julius was in presence. c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 982 (MED) He..Makis a crie þat all þe curte, kniȝtis & erles, Suld put þaim in-to presens [a1500 Trin. Dub. come & be present] his precep to here. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 20 For auld storys..Representis..ye dedys Of stalwart folk yat lywyt ar Rycht as yai yan in presence war. ?1518 A. Barclay Fyfte Eglog sig. Avii Thus all the chyldren, than beynge in presence He set in honour, and rowme of excellence. 1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) 14 And preis ȝow ay in presens to repair. 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iv. i. 53 Tis very true you were in presence then, And you can witnes with me this is true. View more context for this quotation 1656 R. Vines Treat. Inst. Lords-Supper xxx. 339 So we would say of one whose carriage is wanton and loose in the presence of his fathers corpse lying in presence in a coffin or beer, you doe not minde, you consider not who lies there. 1754 E. Burt Lett. N. Scotl. I. ix. 214 They would not have done it in the Presence at St. James's. 1904 H. James Golden Bowl II. xxx. 104 She had not again, for weeks, had Mrs. Assingham so effectually in presence as on the afternoon of that lady's return. P3. chamber of presence n. [compare later presence chamber n.] now historical and rare a place prepared for ceremonial attendance; a presence chamber. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > room by type of use > [noun] > audience-chamber chamber of presence1538 presence1548 presence chamber1551 audience chamber1625 salutatory1641 salle d'audiencec1660 presence room1690 durbar1793 1538 J. Husee Let. 3 Jan. in State Papers Henry VIII (P.R.O.: SP 1/128) f. 29 I was within the Chambre of presens. 1565 Earl of Bedford in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. II. 210 David [Rizzio] was thruste owte of the Cabinet thorowe the bede chamber into the Chamber of Presens. 1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1582/1 Hir Maiesties most gratious answer, deliuered by hir selfe..in hir chamber of presence at Richmond. c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1643 (1955) II. 91 He had Audience of the Fr: King..in the Golden Chamber of Presence. 1701 M. Pope Pract. Disc. Loving Kindness God iv. 158 Will not the Soul be fully perswaded that the Love of God, is better than his past Life, when it shall be Translated unto the Third Heaven, The Imperial Court of God, his Chamber of presence. 1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iii. ii. 18 We entred the Palace, and proceeded into the Chamber of Presence. 1761 J. Hawkesworth Almoran & Hamet I. vi. 73 He returned to the chamber of presence, and having received permission, he entered with Almeida in his hand. 1877 C. M. Yonge Cameos cxxxiv, in Monthly Packet Mar. 207 He was led into the chamber of presence. 1900 W. Alexander Finding of Bk. 158 The Apriling green of the branches They give earth the gift of a voice. From Thy lofty chamber of Presence Thou makest the mountain to drink. 1962 E. Sitwell Queens & Hive li. 365 In the Chamber of Presence, a Chair of State with a canopy, representing the throne, had been placed at one end of the room. P4. presence of mind n. [after classical Latin praesentia animī; compare French présence d'esprit (1656)] the ability to remain calm and take quick, sensible action, esp. in an emergency or in a difficult situation; freedom from embarrassment, agitation, or panic. Cf. present adj. 4. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > calmness > self-possession or self-control > [noun] repressiona1413 governailc1425 willc1480 self-rule1532 coldness1548 stay1556 presentness of mind1598 coolness1607 cold blooda1609 temper1611 self-discipline1612 retention?1615 presence of mind?1624 self-governance1630 retentiveness1641 self-command1651 self-mastery1652 self-control1653 self-direction1653 self-restraint1656 self-possession1665 possessednessa1698 self-regulation1698 possession1703 retenue1747 sang-froid1750 self-collection1761 render1768 self-collectedness1805 self-repression1821 self-containedness1835 unimpulsiveness1860 cool-headedness1881 sophrosyne1889 cool1964 ?1624 G. Chapman tr. Crowne Homers Wks. 116 But O thou euer-blessed! Giue me still, Presence of minde, to put in Act, my will Varied, as fits, to all Occasion. 1665 J. Spencer Disc. Vulgar Prophecies 38 Great courage and presence of mind. 1704 N. N. tr. T. Boccalini Advts. from Parnassus III. 96 The Commander..never wanted Presence of Mind in the most immergent Dangers. 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison III. xix. 168 I had besides been led into a presence of mind, by being made a person of some consequence. 1792 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry I. i. 30 Teague, whose natural parts were not bad, and presence of mind considerable. a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) IV. v. 95 She felt that she could so much more depend upon the sincerity of those who sometimes looked or said a careless or a hasty thing, than of those whose presence of mind never varied, whose tongue never slipped. View more context for this quotation 1883 J. G. McKendrick in Encycl. Brit. XV. 281/2 What is called ‘presence of mind’ really means that power of self-control which prevents the bodily energies being paralysed by strong sensory impressions. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 5 Mar. 12/1 We would both have been drowned had I not, with great presence of mind, hit him on the head with a boat-hook. 1948 S. J. Perelman Westward Ha! x. 130 With admirable presence of mind, they dragged me to a small surgery on the Corso, where my jaws were pried open with a sharp stick. 1996 Woman's Day (Sydney) 10 June 25/1 With courage and presence of mind, Kylie..drew on her gym training and kickboxing lessons to save her life. Compounds C1. General attributive and objective. presence list n. [compare French feuille de présence (1793 or earlier)] ΚΠ 1889 Harper's Mag. Mar. 506/2 M. Chevreul, the famous chemist, is invariably the first to sign the presence list, and the weather must be very severe indeed if the wonderful centenarian does not attend the meeting of his Academy. 1904 H. Hecht Songs from David Herd's MSS 47 The presence-lists show that Fergusson seldom missed the meetings of the Cape. 1992 Lit. & Ling. Computing 7 7 19/1 By word count and sorting programs, variously matched, it was possible to obtain from..texts a presence list which allows us to find out which forms are present in all twenty-six works.., which ones in twenty-five.., and so on. presence-token n. ΚΠ 1836 J. Keble in Lyra Apost. 164 Since holy Gabriel to meek Mary bore The presence-token of th' Incarnate Son. 1871 H. N. Oxenham Poems 34 Within the choir a faint unearthly smell Of incense brooded o'er the cloistral air, The presence-token of One who sojourned there. presence-affirming adj. ΚΠ 1829 J. Mill Anal. Human Mind II. xiv. 89 Presence-affirming Terms. 1984 Boundary 2 12 168 My look at Dickinson..relies most happily upon Sharon Cameron's complex but brilliantly responsive account of the poet's spell-binding, time-annihilating, ‘presence’-affirming ‘Lyric Time’. C2. † presence lobby n. Obsolete rare the lobby or anteroom of a presence chamber. ΚΠ 1633 J. Ford Broken Heart ii. ii. sig. D3^v She sits i'th presence Lobby fast asleepe, Sir. presence room n. = presence chamber n. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > room by type of use > [noun] > audience-chamber chamber of presence1538 presence1548 presence chamber1551 audience chamber1625 salutatory1641 salle d'audiencec1660 presence room1690 durbar1793 1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. iii. 47 To convey them..to their Audience in the Brain, the Mind's Presence-Room. 1816 S. T. Coleridge Christabel ii. 31 The lovely maid and lady tall..pacing on thro' page and groom Enter the Baron's presence-room. 1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess i. 14 That morning in the presence room I stood With Cyril and with Florian, my two friends. 1925 Amer. Mercury Jan. 67/1 An ante-chamber and presence-room were provided. 2005 Evening News (Edinb.) (Nexis) 22 Sept. 21 In 1999, Historic Scotland won a top award..for the elaborate restoration work it had carried out on the ceilings of both the Laich Hall and the King's Presence Room. Derivatives ˈpresenceless adj. ΚΠ 1877 I. D. Hardy Glencairn vi. xx It chilled him as if a presenceless voice had spoken. 1967 Artforum Summer 20/2 An uncompelling and presenceless kind of theater. 1991 St. Petersburg (Florida) Times (Nexis) 15 Dec. 6 d Even our narrator seems beside the point; the doctor's secret sharer..is literally presenceless. He is all spirit, and no body—a vehicle for an idea, nothing more. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.a1325
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