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pre·side

(prĭ-zīd)

intr.v. pre·sid·ed, pre·sid·ing, pre·sides

1. To hold the position of authority; act as chairperson or president: presided over the department for a year.

2. To possess or exercise authority or control: preside at a meeting.

3. Music To be the featured instrumental performer: presided at the keyboard.

[French présider, from Old French, from Latin praesidēre : prae-, pre- + sedēre, to sit; see sed- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

pre·sider n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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