Present (?), a. [F. présent, 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.]
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1. Being at hand, within reach or call, within certain contemplated limits; -- opposed to absent.
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These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. John xiv. 25.
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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.
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I'll bring thee to the present business Shak.
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3. Not delayed; immediate; instant; coincident. “A present recompense.” “A present pardon.” Shak.
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An ambassador . . . desires a present audience. Massinger.
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4. Ready; quick in emergency; as a present wit. [R.]
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5. Favorably attentive; propitious. [Archaic]
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To find a god so present to my prayer. Dryden.
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Present tense (Gram.), the tense or form of a verb which expresses action or being in the present time; as, I am writing, I write, or I do write.
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Present (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presented; p. pr. & vb. n. Presenting.] [F. présenter, 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.
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Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord. Job i. 6
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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.
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Lectorides's memory is ever . . . presenting him with the thoughts of other persons. I. Watts.
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3. To pass over, esp. in a ceremonious manner; to give in charge or possession; to deliver; to make over.
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So ladies in romance assist their knight,
Present the spear, and arm him for the fight. Pope.
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4. To make a gift of; to bestow; to give, generally in a formal or ceremonious manner; to grant; to confer.
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My last, least offering, I present thee now. Cowper.
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5. Hence: To endow; to bestow a gift upon; to favor, as with a donation; also, to court by gifts.
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Octavia presented the poet for him admirable elegy on her son Marcellus. Dryden.
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6. To present; to personate. [Obs.] Shak.
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7. In specific uses; (a) To nominate to an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
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The patron of a church may present his clerk to a parsonage or vicarage; that is, may offer him to the bishop of the diocese to be instituted. Blackstone.
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(b) To nominate for support at a public school or other institution . Lamb. (c) To lay before a public body, or an official, for consideration, as before a legislature, a court of judicature, a corporation, etc.; as, to present a memorial, petition, remonstrance, or indictment. (d) To lay before a court as an object of inquiry; to give notice officially of, as a crime of offence; to find or represent judicially; as, a grand jury present certain offenses or nuisances, or whatever they think to be public injuries. (e) To bring an indictment against . [U.S] (f) To aim, point, or direct, as a weapon; as, to present a pistol or the point of a sword to the breast of another.
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Pesent arms (Mil.), the command in response to which the gun is carried perpendicularly in front of the center of the body, and held there with the left hand grasping it at the lower band, and the right hand grasping the small of the stock, in token of respect, as in saluting a superior officer; also, the position taken at such a command.
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Present (?), n. [F. présent .] Anything presented or given; a gift; a donative; as, a Christmas present.
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Syn. -- Gift; donation; donative; benefaction. See Gift.
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