|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
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. |
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "pre-." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "pre-." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pre.html T. F. HOAD. "pre-." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pre.html |
|
pre-
pre- From the Latin prae, meaning ‘before’, a prefix meaning ‘in front of’, ‘earlier than’, ‘more important than’, or ‘better than’.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "pre-." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "pre-." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-pre.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "pre-." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-pre.html |
|
pre-
pre- From the Latin prae meaning ‘before’, a prefix meaning ‘in front of’, ‘earlier than’, ‘more important than’, or ‘better than’.
|
|
|
Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "pre-." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "pre-." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-pre.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "pre-." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-pre.html |
|
pre-
pre- prefix denoting
1. before; preceding. 2. (in anatomy) in front of; anterior to. |
|
|
Cite this article
"pre-." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pre-." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-pre.html "pre-." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-pre.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
