n. 1. A high administrative official or chief officer, as: a. Any of several high military or civil officials in ancient Rome. b. The chief of police of Paris, France. c. A chief administrative official of a department of France. d. The administrator in charge of discipline at a Jesuit school. 2. A student monitor or officer, especially in a private school. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin praefectus, from past participle of praeficere, to place at the head of : prae-, pre- + facere, to make; see dhē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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