Present | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Prĕ'sent, a.

adjective

a. [Fr. présent, Pr. present, presen, Sp., Pg., & It. presente, Lat. præsens, that is before one, in sight or at hand, p. p. of præesse, to be before, from præ, before, and esse, to be.] 1. Being at hand, within reach or call, within certain contemplated limits, or the like; not away; — opposed to absent. These things have I spoken to you, being yet present with you. John xiv. 25.

Now existing, or in process; neither ended nor yet to begin; not past or future; as, the present session of Congress; the present year or age.
Being now in view, or under consideration.

I'll bring thee to the present business. Shak. 4. Not delayed; immediate; instant. “A present recompense.” Shak. There's an ambassador From Milan that desires a present audience. Massinger. 5. Ready at hand; quick in emergency; as, present wit. 'Tis a high point of philosophy and virtue for a man to be present to himself. L'Estrange. 6. Favorably attentive; not heedless; propitious. Nor could I hope, in any place but there, To find a god so present to my prayer. Dryden. Present tense (Gram.), the tense or form of a verb which expresses action or being in the present time; as, I am writing.

Prĕs'ent, n.

noun

n. [Fr. présent, Pr. present, presen, Sp., Pg., & It. presente. See supra and infra.]

Present time; time in process now, or at the moment contemplated, as in the phrases, at this present, at that present.
(pl.) (Law.) Present letters or instrument; 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 presentes:—in this sense, rarely used in the singular.

At present, at the present time; now.—In present, at once, without delay. “With them, in present, half his kingdom; the rest to follow at his death.” Milton.

Pre-sĕnt’, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. PRESENTED; p. pr. & vb. n. PRESENTING.] [Fr. présenter, Pr., Sp., & Pg. presentar, It. presentare, Lat. præsentāre, from præsens, a.]

Sense 1. To put or place in the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to give a formal introduction to; to set before; to make known; to offer for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the king;—when used with the reciprocal pronoun, to come into the presence of a superior.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord. Job i. 6.

Sense 2. To exhibit to view or notice; to lay before one’s perception or cognizance; to set forth; to offer.

O, hear what to my mind first thoughts present! Milton.

He is ever ready to present to us the thoughts or observations of others. Watts.

Sense 3. To pass over, especially in a ceremonious manner; to give in charge or possession; to deliver; to make over.

So ladies in romance assist their knight, Present the spear, and arm him for the fight. Pope.

Sense 4. To make a gift or donation of; to bestow; to give; to grant; to confer.

Sense 5. Hence, to endow; to bestow a gift upon; to favor, as with a donation. [Obs.]

Octavia presented the poet for his admirable elegy on her son Marcellus. Dryden.

Sense 6. In specific uses, (a.) To nominate to an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.

The patron of a church may present his clerk to a parsonage or vicarage; that is, may offer him to the bishop of the diocese to be instituted. Blackstone.

(b.) To nominate for support at a public school. Lamb. (c.) To lay before a public body for consideration, as before a legislature, a court of judicature, a corporation, or the like; as, to present a memorial, petition, remonstrance, or indictment. (d.) To lay before a court as an object of inquiry; to give notice officially of, as a crime or offense; to find or represent judicially; as, a grand jury present certain offenses, or whatever they think to be public injuries. (e.) To indict. [U. S.] (f.) To point or direct, as a weapon, particularly some species of fire-arms; as, to present a musket to the breast of another.

To present arms (Mil.), to hold them out in token of respect, as if ready to deliver them up.

Prĕs'ent, n.

noun

n. That which is presented or given; a gift; a donative. His dog, to-morrow, by his master's commands, he must carry for a present to his lady. Shak. Syn. — Gift; donation; donative; benefaction. See GIFT.