prefect

or prae·fect

[ pree-fekt ]

/ ˈpri fɛkt /

noun

a person appointed to any of various positions of command, authority, or superintendence, as a chief magistrate in ancient Rome or the chief administrative official of a department of France or Italy.

Roman Catholic Church.

the dean of a Jesuit school or college.
a cardinal in charge of a congregation in the Curia Romana.

Chiefly British. a praeposter.

Nearby words

Origin of prefect

1300–50; Middle English < Latin praefectus overseer, director (noun use of past participle of praeficere to make prior, i.e., put in charge), equivalent to prae- pre- + -fectus (combining form of factus, past participle of facere to make, do¹); see fact

Related formssub·pre·fect, nounun·der·pre·fect, noun

Can be confusedperfect prefect (see usage note at perfect)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for prefect

Rich and smooth with a subtly bitter flavor, Guinness is a prefect drinking beer—and baking beer.
What to Eat: St. Patrick's Day|Cookstr.com|March 16, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The suffering and riotous citizens made Alexandria a very unpleasant place of abode for the prefect and magistrates.
History Of Egypt From 330 B.C. To The Present Time, Volume 11 (of 12)|S. Rappoport
When the prefect reached the appointed spot, no vessel with a silver star was to be seen.
The Emperor, Complete|Georg Ebers
The whole business was confirmed by Tobasco, the police spy, who secured the letter and gave it to the prefect of police.
The Boy Nihilist|Allan Arnold

It was necessary to send troops to secure the performance of the order given by the prefect of police.
Memoirs of the Duchesse De Dino|Duchesse De Dino
I must return now to my own class, but I will send a prefect to you as soon as possible.
The Nicest Girl in the School|Angela Brazil

British Dictionary definitions for prefect

prefect

/ (ˈpriːfɛkt) /

noun

(in France, Italy, etc) the chief administrative officer in a department

(in France, etc) the head of a police force

British a schoolchild appointed to a position of limited power over his fellows

(in ancient Rome) any of several magistrates or military commanders

Also called: prefect apostolic RC Church an official having jurisdiction over a missionary district that has no ordinary

RC Church one of two senior masters in a Jesuit school or college (the prefect of studies and the prefect of discipline or first prefect)

RC Church a cardinal in charge of a congregation of the Curia

Also (for senses 4–7): praefect

Derived Formsprefectorial (ˌpriːfɛkˈtɔːrɪəl), adjective

Word Origin for prefect

C14: from Latin praefectus one put in charge, from praeficere to place in authority over, from prae before + facere to do, make

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for prefect

prefect

mid-14c., "civil or military official," from Old French prefect (12c., Modern French préfet) and directly from Latin praefectus "public overseer, superintendent, director," noun use of past participle of praeficere "to put in front, to set over, put in authority," from prae "in front, before" (see pre-) + root of facere (past participle factus) "to perform" (see factitious). Spelling restored from Middle English prefet. Meaning "administrative head of the Paris police" is from 1800; meaning "senior pupil designated to keep order in an English school" is from 1864. Related: Prefectorial.