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(), a.[F. prsent, L. praesens,-entis, that is before one, in sight or at hand, p. p. of praeesse to be before; prae before + esse to be. See Essence.] 1. Being at hand, within reach or call, within certain contemplated limits; -- opposed to absent. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. John xiv. 25. 2. Now existing, or in process; begun but not ended; now in view, or under consideration; being at this time; not past or future; as, the present session of Congress; the present state of affairs; the present instance. I'll bring thee to the present business Shak. 3. Not delayed; immediate; instant; coincident. "A present recompense." "A present pardon." Shak. An ambassador . . . desires a present audience. Massinger. 4. Ready; quick in emergency; as a present wit. [R.] 5. Favorably attentive; propitious. [Archaic] To find a god so present to my prayer. Dryden. Present tense (Gram.), the tense or form of a verb which expresses action or being in the present Pres"ent n.[Cf. F. prsent. See Present, a.] 1. Present time; the time being; time in progress now, or at the moment contemplated; as, at this present. Past and present, wound in one. Tennyson. 2. pl. (Law) Present letters or instrument, as a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney, or other writing; as in the phrase, " Know all men by these presents," that is, by the writing itself, " per has literas praesentes; " -- in this sense, rarely used in the singular. 3. (Gram.) A present tense, or the form of the verb denoting the present tense. At present, at the present time; now. For the present, for the tine being; temporarily. In present, at once, without delay. [Obs.] "With them, in present, half his kingdom; the rest to follow at his death." Milton. Present" (), v. t.[imp. & p. p.Presented; p. pr. & vb. n.Presenting.] [F. prsenter, L. praesentare, fr. praesens, a. See Present, a.] 1. To bring or introduce into the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to introduce formally; to offer for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the king; (with the reciprocal pronoun) to come into the presence of a superior. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord. Job i. 6 2. To exhibit or offer to view or notice; to lay before one's perception or cognizance; to set forth; to present a fine appearance. Lectorides's memory is ever . . . presenting him with the thoughts of other persons. I. Watts. 3. To pass over, esp. in a ceremonious manner; to give in charge or possession; to deliver; to make over. So ladies in romance assist their knight, Present the spear, and arm him for the fight. Pope. 4. To make a gift of; to bestow; to give, generally in a formal or ceremonious manner; to grant; Present" v. i.(Med.) To appear at the mouth of the uterus so as to be perceptible to the finger in vaginal examination; -- said of a part of an infant during labor. Pres"ent (), n.[F. prsent .] Anything presented or given; a gift; a donative; as, a Christmas present. Syn. -- Gift; donation; donative; benefaction. See Gift. Present" (), n.(Mil.) The position of a soldier in presenting arms; as, to stand at present. スポンサード リンク
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