Pres*ta"tion (?), n. [L. praestatio a performing, paying, fr.
praestare: cf. F. prestation.] (O. Eng. Law) A payment of money; a toll
or duty; also, the rendering of a service. Burrill.
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Prestation money, a sum of money paid yearly by archdeacons and other
dignitaries to their bishop.
Pres"ter (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, from &?; to kindle or burn, and &?;
to blow up, swell out by blowing.] 1. A meteor or exhalation formerly
supposed to be thrown from the clouds with such violence that by
collision it is set on fire. [Obs.]
2. pl. One of the veins of the neck when swollen with anger or other
excitement. [Obs.]
Pres"ter, n. [OF. prestre. See Priest.] A priest or presbyter; as,
Prester John. [Obs.]
Pre*ster"num (?), n. [NL.] (Anat.) The anterior segment of the sternum;
the manubrium. -- Pre*ster"nal (#), a.
Pres`ti*dig"i*tal (?), a. Nimble- fingered; having fingers fit for
prestidigitation, or juggling. [R.] "His prestidigital hand." Charles
Reade.
Pres`ti*dig`i*ta"tion (?), n. Legerdemain; sleight of hand; juggling.
Pres`ti*dig"i*ta`tor (?), n. [L. praesto ready + digitus finger: cf. F.
prestidigitateur.] One skilled in legerdemain or sleight of hand; a
juggler.
Pres"tige (?; 277), n. [F., fr. L. praestigum delusion, illusion,
praestigae deceptions, jugglers' tricks, prob. fr. prae before + the
root of stinguere to extinguish, originally, to prick. See Stick, v.]
1. Delusion; illusion; trick. [Obs.]
The sophisms of infidelity, and the prestiges of imposture.
Bp. Warburton.
2. Weight or influence derived from past success; expectation of future
achievements founded on those already accomplished; force or charm
derived from acknowledged character or reputation. "The prestige of his
name must go for something." Sir G. C. Lewis.
Pres*tig`i*a"tion (?), n. [L. praestigiare to deceive by juggling
tricks, fr. praestigae. See Prestige.] Legerdemain; prestidigitation.
[Obs.]
Pres*tig"i*a`tor (?), n. [L. praestigiator.] A juggler;
prestidigitator. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Pres*tig"i*a*to*ry (?), a. Consisting of impostures; juggling. [Obs.]
Barrow.
Pres*tig"i*ous (?), a. [L. praestigiosus.] Practicing tricks; juggling.
[Obs.] Cotton Mather.
Pres"ti*mo*ny (?), n. [LL. praestimonium, fr. L. praestare to furnish,
supply: cf. F. prestimonie. See Prest, n.] (Canon Law) A fund for the
support of a priest, without the title of a benefice. The patron in the
collator.
||Pres*tis"si*mo (?), adv. [It., superl. of presto.] (Mus.) Very
||quickly; with great rapidity.
Pres"to (?), adv. [It. or Sp. presto quick, quickly. See Prest, a.] 1.
Quickly; immediately; in haste; suddenly.
Presto! begone! 'tis here again.
Swift.
2. (Mus.) Quickly; rapidly; -- a direction for a quick, lively movement
or performance; quicker than allegro, or any rate of time except
prestissimo.
Pre*stric"tion (?), n. [L. praestrictio a binding fast, fr.
praestringere. See Pre-, and Stringent.] Obstruction, dimness, or
defect of sight. [Obs.] Milton.
Pre*sul"tor (?), n. [L. praesultor; prae before + salire to dance.] A
leader in the dance. [R.]
Pre*sum"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈsumable.] Such as may be presumed or
supposed to be true; that seems entitled to belief without direct
evidence.
Pre*sum"a*bly, adv. In a presumable manner; by, or according to,
presumption.
Pre*sume" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presumed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Presuming.] [F. prÈsumer, L. praesumere, praesumptum; prae before +
sumere to take. See Assume, Redeem.] 1. To assume or take beforehand;
esp., to do or undertake without leave or authority previously
obtained.
Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner?
Shak.
Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve.
Milton.
2. To take or suppose to be true, or entitled to belief, without
examination or proof, or on the strength of probability; to take for
granted; to infer; to suppose.
Every man is to be presumed innocent till he is proved to be
guilty.
Blackstone.
What rests but that the mortal sentence pass, . . . Which he
presumes already vain and void, Because not yet inflicted?
Milton.
Pre*sume", v. i. 1. To suppose or assume something to be, or to be
true, on grounds deemed valid, though not amounting to proof; to
believe by anticipation; to infer; as, we may presume too far.
2. To venture, go, or act, by an assumption of leave or authority not
granted; to go beyond what is warranted by the circumstances of the
case; to venture beyond license; to take liberties; -- often with on or
upon before the ground of confidence.
Do not presume too much upon my love.
Shak.
This man presumes upon his parts.
Locke.
Pre*sum"ed*ly, adv. By presumption.
Pre*sum"er (?), n. One who presumes; also, an arrogant person. Sir H.
Wotton.
Pre*sum"ing*ly, adv. Confidently; arrogantly.
Pre*sump"tion (?; 215), n. [L. praesumptio: cf. F. prÈsomption, OF.
also presumpcion. See Presume.] 1. The act of presuming, or believing
upon probable evidence; the act of assuming or taking for granted;
belief upon incomplete proof.
2. Ground for presuming; evidence probable, but not conclusive; strong
probability; reasonable supposition; as, the presumption is that an
event has taken place.
3. That which is presumed or assumed; that which is supposed or
believed to be real or true, on evidence that is probable but not
conclusive. "In contradiction to these very plausible presumptions." De
Quincey.
4. The act of venturing beyond due beyond due bounds; an overstepping
of the bounds of reverence, respect, or courtesy; forward,
overconfident, or arrogant opinion or conduct; presumptuousness;
arrogance; effrontery.
Thy son I killed for his presumption.
Shak.