Prefect Meaning
/ˈpɹiːfɛkt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn official of Ancient Rome who controlled or superintended a particular command, charge, department, etc.
nounThe head of a department in France.
Sentence Examples
I can't believe they made Charlie a prefect!
Charlie absolutely did not deserve to be made a prefect.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The senior ____ monitored the hallway to ensure students were not running.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The school ____ was responsible for maintaining order in the corridors during lesson changes.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English prefect and prefecte, from Old French prefect (Mod. French préfet), from Latin praefectus (“one placed in charge, overseer, director, prefect”), from praeficere (“to place in charge”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Or think of a decent young citizen in a toga - perhaps too much dice, you know - coming out here in the train of some prefect, or tax-gatherer, or trader even, to mend his fortunes."
— 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 196:
"It seems that in the autumn of 803 he went on leave. His uncle Po Chi-chên, had recently been moved from his post at Hsü-chou and promoted to be Prefect of Hsü-chʻang in Central Honan."
— 1951, Arthur Waley, The Life and Times of Po Chü-i, London: George Allen & Unwin, →OCLC, page 33:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The senior ____ monitored the hallway to ensure students were not running.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The school ____ was responsible for maintaining order in the corridors during lesson changes.