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presidium

[pri-sid-ee-uh m]
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noun, plural pre·sid·i·ums, pre·sid·i·a [pri-sid-ee-uh] /prɪˈsɪd i ə/. (often initial capital letter)
  1. (in the Soviet Union and other Communist countries) an administrative committee, usually permanent and governmental, acting when its parent body is in recess but exercising full powers: the presidium of the Supreme Soviet.
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Origin of presidium

1815–25; < Latin prae-sidium, derivative of praes(es) (stem praesid-) guardian, governor, literally, one sitting before. See preside, -ium
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for presidium

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • You are Chairman of the Presidium; is this how you keep order here?

    A Slave is a Slave

    Henry Beam Piper

  • They elected the seven members of the Presidium, who drew lots for the Chairmanship.

    A Slave is a Slave

    Henry Beam Piper

  • The Presidium appointed the Chiefs of Managements, who also served for life.

    A Slave is a Slave

    Henry Beam Piper

  • More importantly, the presidium assumed the powers and functions of the National Assembly when the latter was not in session.

    Area Handbook for Bulgaria

    Eugene K. Keefe, Violeta D. Baluyut, William Giloane, Anne K. Long, James M. Moore, and Neda A. Walpole

  • In practice, the Assembly listens to the reading of bills drawn up by its Presidium and then votes unanimous approval.

British Dictionary definitions for presidium

presidium

praesidium

noun plural -iums or -ia (-ɪə)
  1. (often capital) (in Communist countries) a permanent committee of a larger body, such as a legislature, that acts for it when it is in recess
  2. a collective presidency, esp of a nongovernmental organization
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Word Origin

C20: from Russian prezidium, from Latin praesidium, from praesidēre to superintend; see preside
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 presidium

Presidium

n.

permanent administrative committee of the U.S.S.R., 1924, from Russian prezidium, from Latin praesidium "a presiding over, defense," from praesidere (see preside).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper