Etymology : Middle English, from Old French, from presenter
Pronunciation : pre-z
&nt
Function : noun
Date : 13th century
1. current time, now; tense expressing the current time (Grammar). gift, offering, something that is given to another person without compensation. display, demonstrate; bestow, grant, give; offer, serve, hold out; show, exhibit. existent; in attendance, on hand; of the current times, pertaining to the current times. present\pres"ent\, n. [cf. f. présent. see:
present, a.].
2. present time; the time being; time in progress now, or at the moment contemplated; as, at this present. past and present, wound in one.
3. pl. (law) present letters or instrument, as a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney, or other writing; as in the phrase, " know all men by these presents," that is, by the writing itself, " per has literas praesentes; " -- in this sense, rarely used in the singular.
4. (gram.) a present tense, or the form of the verb denoting the present tense.
5. Being at hand, within reach or call, within certain contemplated limits; opposed to absent.
6. Now existing, or in process; begun but not ended; now in view, or under consideration; being at this time; not past or future; as, the present session of Congress; the present state of affairs; the present instance.
7. Not delayed; immediate; instant; coincident.
8. Ready; quick in emergency; as a present wit.
9. Favorably attentive; propitious.
10. Present time; the time being; time in progress now, or at the moment contemplated; as, at this present.
11. Present letters or instrument, as a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney, or other writing; as in the phrase, " Know all men by these presents," that is, by the writing itself, " per has literas praesentes; " in this sense, rarely used in the singular.
12. A present tense, or the form of the verb denoting the present tense.
13. To bring or introduce into the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to introduce formally; to offer for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the king; to come into the presence of a superior.
14. To exhibit or offer to view or notice; to lay before one's perception or cognizance; to set forth; to present a fine appearance.
15. To pass over, esp. in a ceremonious manner; to give in charge or possession; to deliver; to make over.
16. To make a gift of; to bestow; to give, generally in a formal or ceremonious manner; to grant; to confer.
17. Hence: To endow; to bestow a gift upon; to favor, as with a donation; also, to court by gifts.
18. To present; to personate.
19. To nominate to an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
20. To nominate for support at a public school or other institution.
21. To lay before a public body, or an official, for consideration, as before a legislature, a court of judicature, a corporation, etc.; as, to present a memorial, petition, remonstrance, or indictment.
22. To lay before a court as an object of inquiry; to give notice officially of, as a crime of offence; to find or represent judicially; as, a grand jury present certain offenses or nuisances, or whatever they think to be public injuries.
23. To bring an indictment against.
24. To aim, point, or direct, as a weapon; as, to present a pistol or the point of a sword to the breast of another.
25. To appear at the mouth of the uterus so as to be perceptible to the finger in vaginal examination; said of a part of an infant during labor.
26. Anything presented or given; a gift; a donative; as, a Christmas present.
27. The position of a soldier in presenting arms; as, to stand at present. a verb tense that expresses actions or states at the time of speaking something presented as a gift; "his tie was a present from his wife" the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech; "that is enough for the present"; "he lives in the present with no thought of tomorrow" bring forward and present to the mind; "We presented the arguments to him"; "We cannot represent this knowledge to our formal reason" formally present a debutante, a representative of a country, etc. hand over formally introduce; "This poses an interesting question" spatial sense; being or existing in a specified place; "the murderer is present in this room"; "present at the wedding"; "present at the creation".