Preef (?), n. Proof. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Pre`Î*lect" (?), v. t. To elect beforehand.
Pre`Î*lec"tion (?), n. Election beforehand.
Pre*Îm"i*nence (?), n. [F. prÈÈminence, L. praeeminentia. See
PreÎminent.] The quality or state of being preÎminent; superiority in
prominence or in excellence; distinction above others in quality, rank,
etc.; rarely, in a bad sense, superiority or notoriety in evil; as,
preÎminence in honor.
The preÎminence of Christianity to any other religious scheme.
Addison.
Painful preÎminence! yourself to view Above life's weakness, and
its comforts too.
Pope.
Beneath the forehead's walled preÎminence.
Lowell.
Pre*Îm"i*nent (?), a. [L. praeminens, -entis, p. pr. praeminere to be
prominent, to surpass: cf. F. prÈÈminent. See Pre-, and Eminent.]
Eminent above others; prominent among those who are eminent; superior
in excellence; surpassing, or taking precedence of, others; rarely,
surpassing others in evil, or in bad qualities; as, preÎminent in
guilt.
In goodness and in power preÎminent.
Milton.
Pre*Îm"i*nent*ly, adv. In a preÎminent degree.
Pre`Îm*ploy (?), v. t. To employ beforehand. "PreÎmployed by him."
Shak.
Pre*Împt" (?; 215), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. PreÎmpted; p. pr. & vb. n.
PreÎmpting.] [See PreÎmption.] To settle upon (public land) with a
right of preemption, as under the laws of the United States; to take by
preÎmption.
Pre*Împ"tion (?; 215), n. [Pref. pre- + emption: cf. F. prÈemption. See
Redeem.] The act or right of purchasing before others. Specifically:
(a) The privilege or prerogative formerly enjoyed by the king of buying
provisions for his household in preference to others. [Eng.] (b) The
right of an actual settler upon public lands (particularly those of the
United States) to purchase a certain portion at a fixed price in
preference to all other applicants. Abbott.
Pre*Împ"tion*er (?), n. One who holds a prior right to purchase certain
public land. Abbott.
Pre*Împ"tive (?), a. Of or pertaining to preÎmption; having power to
preÎmpt; preÎmpting.
Pre*Împt"or (?; 215), n. [Cf. L. praeemptor.] One who preÎmpts; esp.,
one who preÎmpts public land.
Pre*Împt"o*ry (?), a. Pertaining to preÎmption.
Preen (?), n. [AS. preÛn a clasp, bodkin; akin to D. priem punch,
bodkin, awl, G. pfriem, Icel. prjnn a knitting needle, pin, Dan. preen
a bodkin, punch.] A forked tool used by clothiers in dressing cloth.
Preen, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preening.] [See
Preen, n.; or cf. Prune.] 1. To dress with, or as with, a preen; to
trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers; -- said of birds. Derham.