the state or fact of being present, as with others or in a place.
attendance or company: Your presence is requested.
immediate vicinity; proximity: in the presence of witnesses.
the military or economic power of a country as reflected abroad by the stationing of its troops, sale of its goods, etc.: the American military presence in Europe; the Japanese presence in the U.S. consumer market.
Chiefly British. the immediate personal vicinity of a great personage giving audience or reception: summoned to her presence.
the ability to project a sense of ease, poise, or self-assurance, especially the quality or manner of a person's bearing before an audience: The speaker had a good deal of stage presence.
personal appearance or bearing, especially of a dignified or imposing kind: a man of fine presence.
a person, especially of noteworthy appearance or compelling personality: He is a real presence, even at a private party.
a divine or supernatural spirit felt to be present: He felt a presence with him in the room.
mid-14c., "fact of being present," from Old French presence (12c., Modern French présence), from Latin praesentia "a being present," from praesentem (see present (n.)). Meaning "carriage, demeanor, aspect" (especially if impressive) is from 1570s; that of "divine, spiritual, or incorporeal being felt as present" is from 1660s. Presence of mind (1660s) is a loan-translation of French présence d'esprit, Latin praesentia animi.
