precocious 
4. In Imt., appearing before the leaves: said 
>. 
precociously (pre-ko'shus-li), odr. In a preco- 
cious manner; with premature ripeness or for- 
wardness. 
A man that ' font] precociously of stirring 
Muit be a spoon. 
Hood, Morning Meditations. 
precociousness (pre-ko'shus-nes), n. Same as 
precocity (pr('-kos'i-ti), H. [= F. precocitt'= Sp. 
precosiaad = Pg. precocidade = It. prerocita, < 
L. as if *preocita(t-)s, (nrteeor, early ripe: 
see precoee, precocious.] The state or charac- 
ter of being precocious; premature growth or 
development ; early ripeness, especially of the 
mental powers. 
Some . . . imputing the cause of It [his fall] to a pre- 
cocity of spirit and valour in him. 
llmcell. Vocnll Forrest, p. 77. 
To the usual precocity of the girl, she added that early 
experience of struggle . . . which Is the lot of every ima- 
ginative and passionate nature. 
George Eliot, Mill on the Floss, iv. i 
The term precocity, as applied by biologists to individu- 
als, explains a similar phenomenon as applied to societies. 
Claude Bernard tells us that the force of development Is 
greatest In the Inferior animals, and that this precocity is 
an evidence of inferiority, and excludes longevity. 
Science, III. 339. 
precoetaneant (pre-ko-e-ta'ne-an), n. [< prc- 
+ coetanean.] One contemporary with, yet old- 
er than, another. [Rare.] 
Indeed I read of Petrarch (the pre-coetanean of our Chan- 
cer) that he was crowned with a laurel in the Capitol by 
the senate of Rome, au. 1341. 
Fuller, General Worthies, ix. 
precogitate (pre-koj'i-tat), r. t. ; pret. and pp. 
precogitated, ppr. precogitating. [< L. prxcogi- 
tatus, pp. of preecogitare (> It. prrcotfitarc), pon- 
der or consider in advance, < prse, before, + 
cogttare, think, consider: see Cogitate).] To con- 
sider or contrive beforehand. [Rare.] 
precogitation (pre-koj-i-ta'shon), n. [= It. prr- 
eoqitasione, < lAj.priecogitatio(ii-), forethought, 
< L. priecogitarc, think upon beforehand: see 
precogitate.] Previous thought or considera- 
tion. 
precognition (pre-kog-nish'on), H. [= Sp. prc- 
cogniciiin = It. precoi/nizioiic, < LL. prtecogni- 
tio(n-), foreknowledge, < L. prtpcoifiioxccre, fore- 
know: see prrcognoMce and ctnjnitinn.] 1. Pre- 
vious knowledge or cognition ; antecedent ex- 
amination. 
When It Is said our "righteousness must exceed th.it of 
the scribes and Pharisees, "let us first take notice, liy way 
of prccoyiutwn, that It must at least be so much. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 18S5), II. 5. 
2. A preliminary examination; specifically, 
in Kcotx law, a preliminary examination of a 
witness or of one likely to know something 
about a case, or the evidence taken down ; es- 
pecially, an examination of witnesses to a crim- 
inal act, l>efore a judge, justice of the peace, 
or sheriff, by a procurator-fiscal, in order to 
know whether there is ground of trial, and to 
enable him to set forth the facts in the libel. 
The ambassador, when he arrived at Bennaar, found It, 
In the first place, necessary to make a proces verbal, or 
what we call a precognition, in which the names of the 
authors, and substance of these reports, were mentioned. 
net, Source of the Nile, II. 603. 
precognosce (pre-kog-nos'), v. t.; pret. and pp. 
precognosced, ppr. prccognoxcing. [= Sp. pre- 
conoccr = It. preconoscere, < L. preecognoscere, 
foreknow, < prse, before, + MgMMOMV, become 
or be acquainted with, know: see cognosce.] 
In Scots inn-, to take the precognition of: as, to 
precognosce witnesses. See precognition. 
precollection(pre-ko-lek'shon), n. [< prc- + 
collection.] A collection previously made. Imp. 
JHct. 
pre-Columbian (pre-ko-lum'bi-an), a. [< pre- 
+ Columbian.] Prior to the time of Christopher 
Columbus; occurring or existing before the 
discovery of America by Columbus : as, a pre- 
Columbian discovery of Xmerica. 
Drawn wire, the manufacture of which It Is not pre- 
tended the pre-Columbian native knew. 
Pop. Set. Ho., XXXI. 621. 
precompose (pre-kom-poz'), t>. /.; pret. ami pp. 
precomposed, ppr. precomposing. [< pre- + 
compose.] To compose beforehand. 
In the latter part of his life he did not pre-cnmpme his 
cursory sermons; but, having adjusted the heads, and 
sketched out some particulars, trusted for success to hu 
extemporary powers. Joluuon, Watts. 
preconceit (prt-kon-sfit'), n. f< prc- + it. \ 
An opinion formed beforehand; a preconceived 
notion. 
4680 
A thing In reason Impossible, which notwithstanding 
through their misfafihionedpreeonenl appeared untot)i< in 
no less certain than If nature had written It In the very 
foreheads of all the creatures. // 
preconceitedt (pre-kon-se.'tod), a. [< pre- + 
i-iniriited.] Preconceived. 
Kaire bloasomes, which of fairer frulte* did bout, 
Were blasted in the flowers, 
With eye-exacted showers. 
Whose sweet supposed sowers 
Of prcconceited pleasures grieu'd me most, 
Stirling, Aurora, tx. 
preconceive (pre-kon-sev'), e. t. ; pret. and pp. 
preconceired, ppr. preconceiving. [</>re- + con- 
ceirc.] To form a conception, notion, or idea 
of, in advance of actual knowledge. 
In a dead plain the way seeroeth the longer, because the 
eye hath preconceived it shorter than the truth. Bacon. 
We do not form our opinions from it [fiction]; but we 
try it by our preconceived opinions. Macaulay, History. 
preconception (pre-kon-sep'shon), n. [< pre- 
+ conception.] A conception or opinion formed 
in advance of experience or actual knowledge; 
also, the influence of previous belief or states 
of mind in modifying the conceptions formed 
under the partial influence of experience. 
Custom with most men prevails more than truth : accord- 
ing to the notions and preconception* which it hath form- 
ed In our minds we shape the discourse of reason itself. 
Uakeirill, Apology, I. 1, i 6. 
preconcert (pre-kon-sert'), r. t. [(prc- + con- 
cert, v.] To concert or arrange beforehand; 
constitute in advance. 
Toro, ... by a preconcerti-d agreement, was delivered 
into his hands by the Governor of the City. 
Prexott, Ferd. and Isa,, i. 5. 
preconcert (pre-kon'sert), H. [< pre- + concert, 
n.] Previous arrangement; preconcerted ac- 
tion or agreement. 
Much time may be req ill red before a compact, organized 
majority can be thus formed ; but formed it will be In 
time, even without preconcert or design, by the sure work- 
ings of that principle or constitution of our nature in which 
government itself originates. Calhoun, Works. I. HI. 
preconcertedly (pre-kon-ser'ted-li), adr. In a 
preconcerted manner; by preconcert. 
preconcertedness (pre-kon-ser'ted-nes), H. 
The state of being preconcerted. 
preconcertion (pre-kon-ser'shon), n. [< prc- 
+ concert/on.] The act of preconcerting, or 
concerting beforehand. Uicigltt. (Imp. l>ict.) 
ptecondemn (pre-kon-dem'), r. /. [< pre- + 
condemn.] To condemn beforehand. 
They will quite reject and precondcinnc them ere they 
have once examined them. 
Prynnf, Histrlo-Mostlx, Ep. Ded., p. S. 
precondemnation (pre-kon-dem-nS'shon), . 
[< pre- + condemnation.] The act of condemn- 
ing, or the state of being condemned, before- 
hand. 
precondition (pre-kon-dish'on), . [< pre- + 
condition.] An antecedent condition; a con- 
dition requisite in advance ; a prerequisite. 
Up to 1763 he [Kant] had still maintained that the Idea 
of God is the precondition of all thought and being. 
K. Caird, Philos. of Kant, p. 165. 
preconform (pre-kon-form' ), r. t. and i. [< prc- 
+ conform.] To conform in anticipation. DC 
Quinccy. 
preconformity (pre-kon-for'mi-ti), n. [< pre- 
+ conformity.] Antecedent conformity. Cole- 
ridge. 
preconizatet (pre-kon'i-zat), f. t. [< ML. prx- 
conizatus, pp. of preeconizare, proclaim : see 
preconize.] To proclaim ; summon by procla- 
mation. 
The qneen . . . incontinently departed out of the court ; 
wherefore she was thrice preconnitate, and called eft-soons 
to return and appear. 
Bp. Burnet, Records, II. No. 28. The King's Letter, 
[June, 1529. 
preconization (pre-kon-i-za'shon), . [= F. 
priTonixation = Sp. preconizadon = Pg. pre- 
mniznySo = It. preconizzazione, < ML. prieconi- 
zntio(n-), < prte.conizare, pp. prieconizatuK, pro- 
claim: see preconize.] If. A public proclama- 
tion or summons. 
The time was when the minister, In a solemn preconi- 
zation, called you either then to speak, or for ever after 
to hold your peace. 
Bp. Hall, Cases of Conscience (Additional). 111. 
2. Specifically, in the Rom. f'ath. Ch., the pub- 
lic Confirmation by the Pope of the decision of 
the College of Cardinals to appoint a given 
ecclesiastic to a specified church dignity. This 
preconization Is an essential part of an appointment to any 
of the higher ecclesiastical dignities, Is the first public an- 
noiim ement of It, and Is made in the presence ..f tin- Col- 
lege of Cardlnsli. The bull of prcconuation Is the official 
letter of the Pope to an appointee announcing his pre- 
conization. 
precordial 
preconize, praeconize (prS'kp-niz), v. t. ; pret. 
and }>p.preconized,prKconi2ed, ppi.preconiziiig, 
prtecontzing. [= F.nreconiser = Sp.prcconizar 
= Pg. preconwar = It. preconizzare, ( ML. prie- 
roaizare, proclaim, < L. preeco(n-), a crier, her- 
ald.] 1. To summon publicly; call upon as 
by a public crier. 
The clergy are prxcaruzed, or summoned by name, to 
appear before the metropolitan or his commissary. 
Encyc. lirit., VI. 329. 
2. Specifically, in the Kom. Ciith. Ch., to eon- 
firm publicly or officially, as an ecclesiastical 
appointment : a prerogative of the Pope. See 
preconization, 2. 
preconquer (pre-kong'ker), r. t. [< pre- + 
conquer.] To conquer beforehand. 
This kingdom . . . they had preconmiered in their hopes. 
Fuller, Worthies, Cornwall, 1. 304. 
preconscious (pre-kon'shus), a. [< pre- + con- 
scious.] Pertaining to or involving a state an- 
terior to consciousness. 
preconsent (pre-kon-sent')i n. [< pre- + con- 
sent.'] A previous consent. Sonthey. 
preconsign (pre-kon-sin'), r. /. [< prc- + con- 
sign.] If. To consign beforehand; serve as 
a consignation or token of. 
Therefore St. Cyril calls baptism . . . " the antitype of 
the passions of Christ." It does prrcontign the death of 
Christ, and does the infancy of the work of grace. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1836), I. 118. 
2. To make over in advance; make a previous 
consignment of: as, to precoiurign one's prop- 
erty to another. 
preconsolidated (pre-kon-sol'i-da-ted), a. [< 
pre- + consolidated.] Consolidated beforehand. 
preconstitute (pre-kon'sti-tut),Y. t. ; pret. and 
pp. preconstituted, ppr. preconstituting. [< pre- 
+ constitute. Cf. P. preconstituer.] To con- 
stitute or establish beforehand. 
precontemporaneous (pre-kon-tem-po-ra'ne- 
us), a. [< prc- + contemporaneous.] Prior to 
what is contemporaneous ; antecedent ; pre- 
vious. [Rare.] 
In discussing the precontemporanemu history of the sub- 
ject, he defined the following epochs. Science, III. 67. 
precontract (pre-kon'trakt, formerly also pre- 
kon-trakt'), n. [< pre- + contract.] A pre- 
vious contract or engagement; especially, a 
previous betrothal or contract of marriage. 
Gentle daughter, fear you not at all. 
He is your husband on a precontract. 
Shak., M. for M.. Iv. 1. 72. 
Peter Gomera. tliou hast lost thy wife ; 
Death pleads a precontract. 
Beau, and /'/., Knight of Malta, i. .",. 
precontract (pre-kon-trakf ), r. [< precontract, 
n.] I. trans. To contract beforehand ; bind or 
make over by a previous contract ; particularly, 
to betroth before something else. 
This Leplda had been pre-contracted unto Metellns 
Sclpio; but afterwards, the precontract being broken, 
he forsook her. A orth, tr. of Plutarch, p. ft39. 
II. intrang. To form a previous contract; 
come to a previous arrangement or agree- 
ment. 
precontrive (pre-kon-triv'), r. t. and i. ; pret. 
and pp. prccoittrived, ppr. precontriving. [< 
pre- + contrive.] To contrive or plan before- 
hand. 
Thus, for Instance, when the mind had the will to raise 
the arm to the head, the body was so precontrivcd as to 
raise at that very moment the part required. 
Wnrliurtiw, On Pope's Essay on Man, III. 295. 
precoracoid, praecoracoid (pre-kor'a-koid), a. 
and n. [< pre- + coracovl.'] I. a. Situated in 
front of the coracoid bone or cartilage; per- 
taining to the precoracoid. Also prccoracoi- 
dal. 
H. H. A precoracoidal bone or cartilage of the 
shoulder-girdle or pectoral arch of the lower 
vertebrates. See coracoid. 
That region of the primitively cartilaginous pectoral 
arch . . . which lies on the ventral side [of the glenold 
cavity] may present not only a coracoid, but uprecaracnid 
and an eplcoracoid. Huxley, Anat. Vert., p. 36. 
precoracoidal (pre-kor-a-koi'dal), a. [<.pr< <.- 
acoid + -al.] Same as precoracoid. 
precordia, . See prieeordia. 
precordial, prsecordial (pr6-k6r'di-al), a. and 
n. [= F. precordial, < Mu.iinecordiitlia, neut. 
pl.prxcordialia, prsncordiaA li.prspcordiii, pne- 
cordia: see prtecordia.] I. a. Situated in front 
of the heart; pertaining to the prwconliu. - Pre- 
cordlal region, the region of the heart, or the front ..f 
the cheat over the heart ; also, the epigastric region. 
I am come to speak of the prmordiaU ngiim of the 
bodie. Upland, tr. .if Hiiiy, xxx. 5. 
II. ii.pl. The precordial parts. [Kim ,| 
