Prē'fect, n.

n. [Lat. præfectus, from præficere, præ-fectus, to set over, from præ, before, and facere, to make; Fr. préfet, Pr. préfet, Sp. & Pg. prefecto, It. prefetto].

1. A Roman officer who was over, or who superintended, a particular command, charge, department, and the like. Of this class there were several, as the prefect of the aqueducts, the prefect of a camp, of a fleet, of the city guard, of provisions, and the like. The pretorian prefect was commander of the pretorian guards.
2. A superintendent of a department or division of the kingdom, who has the direction of its police establishment, together with extensive powers of municipal regulation. [France.] Brande.