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pre-
pre- (e.g. in predicate, preface, premiss, preposition, presage, presence), pref. repr. F. pré- or its source L. præ-, later prē-, i.e. the adv.-prep. præ (of place, rank, time) before, in front, in advance, OL. prai = Oscan prai, prae-, Umbrian pre, cogn. with (O)Ir. ar before, at, in OSl. pri near, and rel. to the groups of PER, prī- (repr. by PRIME, PRIOR), and prð (see PRO-1, PRO-2).
Many L. comps. of various dates are repr. variously in Eng. (see below), chiefly based on vbs. and corr. sbs., with the meanings ‘before’, ‘previously’, ‘in advance’ (in time or order of succession, action, thought, performance, or execution) in adv. relation to the combined el., as in precede, predestine, prefix, preserve, pretend, previous, and as in comprehend, predatory, prehensile; with implication of ‘beyond or over all others’ as in predominate, pre-eminent, prevail; hence as a living prefix, e.g. in prejudge (XII), prepossess (XVII); of anterior position, as in (anat.) precerebellar, -dentate, -hallux. b. In prepositional relation, as in pre-Cambrian, pre-historic, pre-Shakespearian. |
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T. F. HOAD. "pre-." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "pre-." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pre.html T. F. HOAD. "pre-." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pre.html |
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pre-
pre- From the Latin prae, meaning ‘before’, a prefix meaning ‘in front of’, ‘earlier than’, ‘more important than’, or ‘better than’.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "pre-." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "pre-." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-pre.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "pre-." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-pre.html |
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pre-
pre- From the Latin prae meaning ‘before’, a prefix meaning ‘in front of’, ‘earlier than’, ‘more important than’, or ‘better than’.
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Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "pre-." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "pre-." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-pre.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "pre-." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-pre.html |
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pre-
pre- prefix denoting
1. before; preceding. 2. (in anatomy) in front of; anterior to. |
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"pre-." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pre-." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-pre.html "pre-." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-pre.html |
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