present

views updated May 17 2018

pres·ent1 / ˈprezənt/ • adj. 1. (of a person) in a particular place: a doctor must be present at the ringside the speech caused embarrassment to all those present. ∎  (often present in) (of a thing) existing or occurring in a place or thing: organic molecules are present in comets.2. existing or occurring now: she did not expect to find herself in her present situation. ∎  now being considered or discussed: the present article cannot answer every question. ∎  Gram. (of a tense or participle) expressing an action now going on or habitually performed or a condition now existing.• n. [in sing.] (usu. the present) the period of time now occurring: they are happy and at peace, refusing to think beyond the present. ∎ Gram. a present tense: the verbs are all in the present. See also historic present.PHRASES: at present now: membership at present stands at about 5,000.for the present for now; temporarily. (there is) no time like the present used to suggest that something should be done now rather than later: “When do you want me to leave?” “No time like the present.”present company excepted excluding those who are here now.these presents formal Law this document: the premises outlined in red on the Plan annexed to these presents.pres·ent3 / ˈprezənt/ • n. a thing given to someone as a gift: a Christmas present.PHRASES: make a present of give as a gift: he had made a present of a hacienda to the president.

PRESENT

views updated May 14 2018

PRESENT. A term for the TENSE of the VERB concerned primarily with events, actions, and states that apply at the time of speaking or writing (The work goes on), but also used to express FUTURE time (We go to France tomorrow), universal truths (in the simple present only: Water is wet), and PAST time in certain narratives, often of an informal or colloquial nature (‘The narrative present’: He crosses the street and shoots them). There are several types of present tense. The simple present tense has the form of the verb without inflections (mention) or with the third-person singular -s (Everybody mentions his name). The complex present tenses are: the present continuous or present progressive, which combines a present form of auxiliary be with the -ing participle (is mentioning); the present perfect, which combines a present form of auxiliary have with the -ed participle (has mentioned); the present perfect continuous, which combines these two (has been mentioning).

present

views updated Jun 08 2018

present (pri-zent) vb.
1. (of a patient) to come forward for examination and treatment because of experiencing specific symptoms (presenting symptoms).

2. (in obstetrics) see presentation.

Present

views updated Jun 27 2018

PRESENT

To submit for consideration or action. Immediate, not in the future.

Present ability refers to a person's immediate capacity to do an act. A present conveyance is made with the intention that it take effect at once.

In commercial paper law, to present a check means to submit it to the drawee for acceptance or payment.

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