Preside Meaning
/pɹɪˈzaɪd/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo act as president or chairperson.
verbTo exercise authority or control.
Sentence Examples
Article 6. The president shall preside at all meetings.
Tom offered to preside at the meeting.
The Honorable Mrs Maria Oliveira will preside over the opening session.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The committee chair will ____ the important meeting to discuss the annual budget.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The chief justice was asked to ____ over the landmark constitutional case.
Word Origin & History
From Old French presider, from Latin praesidēre (“preside”), from pre- (“before”) + sedere (“to sit”). Displaced Old English foresittan, which might have been a calque of the Latin.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The firſt day of November was dedicated to the angel preſiding over fruits, ſeeds, &c. and was therefore named la mas ubhal, that is, the day of the apple fruit, and being pronounced lamasool, the English have corrupted the name to lambswool, a name they give to a compoſition made on this eve of roaſted apples, ſugar, and ale."
— 1786, “Of Allhallow Eve, Named by the Irish Oidhche Shamhna”, in Charles Vallancey, editor, Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis, volume III, Dublin: Luke White, pages 444-445:
"When all this was sailed through, there still remained the toolroom—a most efficient department presided over by a quiet man who was an expert on astronomy as well as jigs, tools and fixtures."
— 1944 September and October, A Former Pupil, “Some Memories of Crewe Works—I”, in Railway Magazine, page 283:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The committee chair will ____ the important meeting to discuss the annual budget.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The chief justice was asked to ____ over the landmark constitutional case.