preside

[pri-zahyd]

See more synonyms for preside on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), pre·sid·ed, pre·sid·ing.

to occupy the place of authority or control, as in an assembly or meeting; act as president or chairperson.
to exercise management or control (usually followed by over): The lawyer presided over the estate.

Origin of preside

1605–15; < Latin praesidēre to preside over, literally, sit in front of, equivalent to prae- pre- + -sidēre, combining form of sedēre to sit¹

Related formspre·sid·er, nounun·pre·sid·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for preside

Contemporary Examples

Recall how Clinton returned to Arkansas from the campaign trail to preside over the execution of a mentally disabled man.
President Cuomo Would’ve Been a Lion
Jonathan Alter
January 2, 2015
The convention only gains legitimacy when Washington agrees to not only attend it, but preside over it.
Washington’s Wheeler-Dealer Patriotism
William O’Connor
October 31, 2014
Héctor's older brothers Arturo and Alfredo were men with the right temperament to preside over a multinational crime syndicate.
Trading Dime Bags for Salvador Dali
Jason McGahan
October 19, 2014
They are happy to preside over a system where unions are political organizations first and economic ones second.
The Conservative Case for Unions After the Harris v. Quinn Decision
James Poulos
July 2, 2014
The village houses are done up in pale gray and mauve and preside over lawns so neat and green they look like carpeting.
The Stacks: The Searing Story of How Murder Stalked a Tiny New York Town
E. Jean Carroll
April 19, 2014

Historical Examples

No, sir, you won the game for us, and you've got to preside at the dinner!
Frank Roscoe's Secret
Allen Chapman
Later he was to become a Spiritualist and preside at table-tipping seances.
Keziah Coffin
Joseph C. Lincoln
And it's yourself as Deputy-Governor will preside over that same court-martial.
Captain Blood
Rafael Sabatini
The Sanitary Commission I preside over is not in favour with the populace.
Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard
Joseph Conrad
No one in particular, and I'm willing you should preside if you want to, Martin.
The Grammar School Boys of Gridley
H. Irving Hancock

British Dictionary definitions for preside

preside

verb (intr)

to sit in or hold a position of authority, as over a meeting
to exercise authority; control
to occupy a position as an instrumentalisthe presided at the organ

Derived Formspresider, noun

Word Origin

C17: via French from Latin praesidēre to superintend, from prae before + sedēre to sit

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 preside

v.

1610s, from French présider "preside over, govern" (15c.), from Latin praesidere "stand guard; superintend," literally "sit in front of," from prae "before" (see pre-) + sedere "to sit" (see sedentary).

preside

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Examples from the Web for preside

Contemporary Examples

Recall how Clinton returned to Arkansas from the campaign trail to preside over the execution of a mentally disabled man.

The convention only gains legitimacy when Washington agrees to not only attend it, but preside over it.

Héctor's older brothers Arturo and Alfredo were men with the right temperament to preside over a multinational crime syndicate.

They are happy to preside over a system where unions are political organizations first and economic ones second.

The village houses are done up in pale gray and mauve and preside over lawns so neat and green they look like carpeting.

Historical Examples

No, sir, you won the game for us, and you've got to preside at the dinner!

Later he was to become a Spiritualist and preside at table-tipping seances.

And it's yourself as Deputy-Governor will preside over that same court-martial.

The Sanitary Commission I preside over is not in favour with the populace.

No one in particular, and I'm willing you should preside if you want to, Martin.

preside

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for preside

v.

Origin of preside