- F. présenter, L. praesentare, fr. praesens, a. See Presenta.
- 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; (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.
- To exhibit or offer to view or notice; to lay before one's perception or cognizance; to set forth; to present a fine appearance.Lectorides's memory is ever . . . presenting him with the thoughts of other persons.
- To pass over, esp. 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.
- To make a gift of; to bestow; to give, generally in a formal or ceremonious manner; to grant; to confer.My last, least offering, I present thee now.
- Hence: To endow; to bestow a gift upon; to favor, as with a donation; also, to court by gifts.Octavia presented the poet for him admirable elegy on her son Marcellus.
- To present; to personate.Obs
- In specific uses; 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.To nominate for support at a public school or other institution .Lamb.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.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.To bring an indictment against .U.STo aim, point, or direct, as a weapon; as, to present a pistol or the point of a sword to the breast of another.
