precordial 
Wheras collide in wantlnge, the naturall heatc ii not 
dryuen f rome the owtewarde partes Into the Inwarde partes 
and precordiait, whereby digestion is much strengthen. .1. 
A. K/'-H, tr. of Peter Martyr (First Books on America, 
[ed. Arber, p. 118). 
precorneal. praecorneal (pre-kor ne-al), a. 
[< L. jiret, before, + NL. cornea, cornea. ] Sit- 
uated on the front of the cornea of the eye. 
precosenesst, . See irrecoceness. 
precourse (pre-kors'), v. t.; pret. anil pp. pre- 
courxtil, ppr. precoitrsing. [< pre- + course, r. 
Cf. precurne.] To go before as a herald or pre- 
cursor; herald the approach of; announce; 
prognosticate. [Bare.] 
The sea had strangely flattened; the weighty swells 
which had precourseil the growth of the storm had run 
away down the eastern waters. 
W. C. Russell, Death Ship, xl. 
precritical (pre-krit'i-kal), a. [< pre- + cri/i- 
r/.] Previous to the development of Kant's 
critical philosophy and to the publication of 
his " Critique of the Pure Reason." 
The statement of the question carries one inevitably to 
the precrilicul philosophies, to CartesianUm. 
Mi ml. XII. 1-24. 
The pre critical period of Kant's development. 
Kueyc. Brit., XIII. 847. 
precular (prek'u-lar), H. [< L. precari, pi-ay: 
aeoprayi. Cf. tfLi.preeula, chaplet.] A prayer- 
man ; a beadsman ; one bound to pray periodi- 
cally for the founder or founders of the religious 
benefaction which he enjoys. 
precuneal, praecuneal (pre-ku'ne-al), . [< 
L. pi'se, before, + cuneu.t, wedge: see ciincus 
tmaprteciiHeiui.] Situated in front of the cuiieus 
of the brain: specifically noting the quadrate 
lobule, or pnecuneus. 
precuneus, . See pnecmieus. 
precurrent (pre-kur'ent), . [< L. prircur- 
ren(t-)x, ppr. of pracurrere, run before, < prir, 
before, -f currere, run : Bee current 1 ."] Running 
forward ; specifically, in zool., extending cepha- 
lad ; antrorse : the opposite of recurrent. 
precurrert (pre-ker'er), . (X L.pr/fcurrcre, run 
before (see precurrent), + E. -ei-i.] A precur- 
sor; a forerunner. 
Thou shrieking harbinger, 
Koul prtcurrer of the tlend. 
Shak., Phoenix and Turtle, 1. 0. 
precurset (pre-kers'), [< L. preecursux, a 
coming or going before, < jiriecurrere, run be- 
fore : see i>recttrreiit, and cf. course 1 .] A fore- 
running; a heralding; prognostication. 
Even the like precitrse of fierce events, 
As harbingers preceding still the fates, . . . 
Have heaven and earth together demonstrated 
Unto our cllmatures and countrymen. 
Shot., Hamlet, i. 1. 121. 
precursor, u. See precursor. 
precursive (pre-ker'siv), a. [< preevme + -ire.'] 
Preceding as a herald; prognosticate; pre- 
dictive. 
But soon a deep precur*iiY sound moaned hollow. 
Coif ridge, Destiny of Nations. 
precursor (pre-ker'spr), H. [A\soprecurser; = 
F. precurseur = Sp. Pg. precursor = It. prccur- 
sore, < L. precursor, a forerunner, < prxctir- 
rere, run before: see precurrent.'] A forerun- 
ner; also, that which precedes an event and 
indicates its approach. 
Jove's lightnings, the precursors 
O' the dreadful thunder-claps. 
Shot., Tempest, i. 2. 201. 
= Syn. Predecessor, herald, omen, sign, 
precursory (pre-ker'so-ri), a. and n. [< Ij.prs- 
cursorins, precursory, {.precursor, a forerunner: 
see precursor.] I. a. Preceding as a lierald; 
forerunning; introductory; indicative of some- 
thing to follow. 
We shall perceive more plainly the cosmopolite's fear- 
ful judgment if we take a precursory view of the parable's 
former passages. /.'<-. T. Adams, Works, II. 123. 
Nations in a state of decuy lose their idiom, which loss 
is always precursory to that of freedom. 
Landor, Demosthenes and Eubulides. 
H.t >. A precursor; an introduction. 
Virtue is the way to truth ; purity of affections a ne- 
cessary precursory to depth of knowledge. 
Hammond, Works, IV. 568. 
predable (pred'a-bl), . [< OF. *i>redable (taken 
in active sense), < ML. preedabilis, in passive 
sense, that can be seized as prey, < L. prxdari, 
seize as prey: seeprede, prey-, r.] In her., prey- 
ing or carnivorous; raptorial: said of a bird. 
predacean (pre-da'se-au), n. [< predaee-ons 
+ -.] A carnivorous "animal. Kirby. (Imp. 
llict. ) 
predaceOUS (pre-da'shius), . [= It. nri'ilnci. 
< L. as if *i>r;r<htx, given to preying, \pnedii, 
4681 
prey : see prejfl. ] Living by prey ; disposed to 
prey or plunder; predatory, 
predalt (pre'dal), a. [< L. prteda, booty, spoil 
(see prey*), + -a/.] Plundering; pillaging; 
predatory. 
So England next the lustful Dane surrey'd ; 
Allur'd, the predal raven took his flight. 
Her coasts at tint attempting to Invade, 
And violate her sweets with rude delight. 
S. Boyte, The Olive, I. 
predate (pre-daf), r . t. ; pret. and pp. predated, 
ppr. predating. [< pro- 4- date 1 .] 1. To ante- 
date; date before the actual time: as, to pre- 
date a bond. 2. To possess an earlier date 
than ; precede in date. 
The Bonnlngton, or Lawday, oak is not a boundary tree, 
but it predates the times of the Tudors. 
Jf. aiui ., 7th ser., VII. 480. 
predation(pre-da'shon), H. [< L. i>rse<ltitio(ii-), 
a plundering, < prtKuin, pp. prxditttu, plunder: 
see prey 1 *, i'.J The act of plundering or pillag- 
ing; robbery; predatory incursion. 
For thel were charged with grcate sommcs of money to 
the kyng, and now this sodaln vlsltaclon or prrdacion 
cleane shaued them. Hall, Hen. IV., an. 17. 
Predatores (pred-a-to'rez), H. pi. [NL., < L. 
prtedatur, a plunderer, < prtedari, pp. prtetlatus, 
plunder: see;/rey2, r.] Swaiusou's name of a 
tribe of coleopterous insects, containing such 
as are predatory or adeplmgous and prey on 
other insects, including the families Cicindr- 
lidir, Carabidie, DytiscitUe, Silplridie, and >'/- 
phylinidte, 
predatorily (pred'a-to-ri-li), adt\ Iii a preda- 
tory manner; with pillaging or plundering. 
predatoriness (pred'a-to-ri-ues), H. The char- 
acter of being predatory; inclination to prey 
or plunder. 
predatoriOUSt (pred-a-to'ri-us), a. [< L. prte- 
datorins, plundering: see predatory.] Preda- 
tory. 
They become prtdatorimu and adulterous, consumption, 
ary and culinary, false and base tires. 
lip. Gauden, Tears of the Omrch, p. 321. (Danes.) 
predatory (pred'a-to-ri), . [= It. predatorio, 
< L. prteaatoriiu, rapacious, plundering, prjedo- 
predesign 
predecess (pre-de-ses'), r. t. [< predecessor, 
taken as 'predecess + -or.] To precede; be the 
predecessor of. [Rare.] 
Lord John Sackvillc predeeesstd me here. 
Walpolf, Letter*, IL 87. 
predecessive (pre-dfi-ses'iv), a. [< L. prse, be- 
fore, + decesxus, pp. of decedcre, depart, with- 
draw (see decease), + -irr.] Going before; pre- 
ceding; previous. 
Our noble and wise prince has hit the law 
That all our predtcessioe studenti 
Have mlss'd, unto their shame. 
Uiddleton, Massinger, and Itmrleu, Old Law, L 1. 
predecessor (pre-de-ses'or), H. [< OF. prede- 
CfKseur, P. predecessenr = 8p. predecesor = Pg. 
predecessor = It. predecessore, < lAj. predecessor, 
one who has gone before, < L. pro.', before, + 
flretusor, a retiring officer, < dceedere, pp. de- 
cesxus, go away, depart : see decease. Cf. ante- 
cessor and successor.] One who goes before or 
precedes another, (a) One who precedes another in 
a given state, position, or office ; a previous occupant of a 
position or office. 
What know wee further of him [Leontlus, Bishop of 
Magnesia) but that he might be as factious and false a 
Bishop as Leontius of Antloch, that was a hunderd yeares 
a\ predecessor f MMoit, Preuitlcal Episcopacy. 
f '* ) An ancestor ; a forefather. 
Rota. Where is Duncan's body? 
Macd. Carried to Colincklll, 
Tile sacred storehouse of Ma predecessors, 
And guardian of their liones. 
Shalt., Macbeth, ii. 4. 34. 
predeclare (pre-de-klar'), r. /.; pret. and pp. 
predtclart-d, ppr. predeclarinn. [< pre- + de- 
clare.] To declare beforehand ; predict; fore- 
tell. 
Though I write lifiy rdd, I do not carry 
An almanack in my lnn\v*to pre-declare 
What weather we shall have. 
Matriiii/er, Guardian, I. 1. 
prededication (prtMled-i-ka'shon). H. [<;<- 
+ dedication.] A prior dedication; a dedica- 
tion made beforehand or previously. Webster's 
Diet. 
predefine (prfi-df-fln'), r. i. pret. and pp. prc- 
defined, pi>r. prrdefiuiny. [< OF. preitennir = 
tor, a plunderer, < prxdari, plunder: see preyS, Sp. Pg. pretlejiuir = It, nredetinire, < ML. >*- 
r.] 1. Plundering; pillaging; living by rapine dejinirc predetermine, < L. prx, before, +drfi- 
nire, define : see define.] To define or limit be- 
forehand ; set a limit to previously ; predeter- 
mine. 
>r preying, 
Though the country was infested by predatory hands, a 
Protestant gentleman could scarcely obtain permission to 
keep a braue of pistols. ilacaulay, Hist Eng., vl. 
The human race, though a gregarious race, has ever 
been, and still is, a predatory race. 
H. S)*ncer, I'rin. of Psychol., | 510. 
2. Characterized by rapine; spent in plunder- 
ing; devoted to pillaging. 
The position was already a very Important one, for 
according to the predatory system of warfare of the day 
it was an excellent starting-point for thone marauding ex- 
peditions. Motley, HUt. Netherlands, II. 303. 
Human beings arc cruel to oue another In proportion as 
their habits are predatory. 
II. Spencer, Social Statics, p. 440. 
3. In zool., habitually preying upon other ani- 
mals; carnivorous or insectivorous, as a mam- 
mal ; rapacious or raptorial, as a bird ; adepha- 
gous, as an insect. 4t. Hungry; ravenous. 
The evils that come of exercise are ... that it maketh 
the spirits more hot and predatory. 
Baton, Nat. Hist., {299. 
predet, n. K k. prxda, booty, plunder: see 
prey'*, n.] Spoil; booty; plunder; pillage. 
The gentleman, being nettled that his kinsman would 
seeme to rescue the pre'le of his deadlie fo, brake out in 
these cholerike words. Stanihurst, Descrlp. of Ireland, Iv. 
predet, f. ' [Also pread,preid; < L. prtfdari, 
plunder: see prcg%, v.] To plunder; pillage; 
rob. 
When the subjects were preided, you would be content 
to winke at their misery, so that your mouth were stopt 
with briberle. Stanihurst, Descrlp. of Ireland, vl. 
predecayt (pre-de-ka'), . [< pre- + decay.] 
Previous decay. 
For (what we must confess unto relations of antiquity) 
some pn-decay |of oraclesl Is observable from that (pas- 
sage] of Cicero, urged by Baronlus. 
Sir T. Broume, Vnlg. Err., TiL 12. 
predecease (pre-de-ses'), ii. [= F. i>redeces ; < 
L. prif, before, + deccssux, departure.] De- 
cease before another. 
predecease (pre-de-ses'), r. /. ; pret. and pp. pre- 
<lif>a.ir<l. ppr. predeceasiinj. [< predecease, .] 
To die before ; precede in dying. 
If children pre iteceav progenitors, 
\\ r lire their offspring, and they none of oars. 
StaJt., Lucrece, 1. 1756. 
The first Is the only .Stuart period on which a faint mm k 
Is left by Henry, Prince of Wales, flu predeceased his fa- 
ther in 1612. rMnbvryh Ret., CLXIV. 496. 
/" 
fe 
Daniel understood that the number of years which God 
had, In his word to .tcremiah the prophet, predefined for 
the continuance of the captivity of the Jews and thedeso. 
lation of Jerusalem, viz. seventy years, were now near to 
their expiration. Up. Hall, Hard Texts, Daniel, Ix. 2. 
predefinition (pre-def-i-nish'on), H. [Early 
mod. E. prediffynycion ; = Sp. predefiiiicion = Pg. 
predejinictlo = It. predejini:ione, < ML. 'priedeji- 
ni(iV>(n-),< *i>rifdrjinire, predetermine: seetwc- 
dtfine.] Definition in advance; predetermina- 
tion. 
Vntjrl such tymc as the complete nomber of thejT con- 
staunt fellowes and faithful bretheme . . . shoulde be 
fulfylled and whollye accomplyshed acconlynge to the 
etenial prfdy/ynyciuu of God. Bp. Bale, Image, 1. 
predeliberation (pre-de-HI>-e-ra'shon), . [< 
ire- + deliberation.] Deliberation beforehand. 
tloyct. 
predelineation (pre-de-lin-e-a'shon), n. [<pre- 
+ delineation.] 1. Previous delineation. 2. 
The theory or doctrine of the animalculists of 
the last century, who considered the whole body 
of an individual to be preformed in a sperma- 
to/.uon. and the figure to be predelineated in 
the head and other parts of the sperm-cells. 
Leeuwenhoek, Hartsoeker, and Hpallanzanl were the 
chief defenders of this theory of predelinration. 
UaecJcel, Evol. of Mail (trans.), L 37. 
predella (pre-del'ft), H. [It. (ML. pnedella), a 
stool, footstool, confessional.] Same &gradino. 
predentary (i)re-den'ta-ri), a. [< L. pry, be- 
fore, + LL. dentariux, dentary: see dentary.] 
Situated in advance of the dentary element or 
bone of the lower jaw, as a bone of some rep- 
t ilos. \ntiire. XL. 325. 
predentate (pre-den'tat),*?. [< L. prte, before, 
+ dintatiix, toothed: see dentate.'] In Cetacea, 
having teeth in the fore part of the upper jaw 
only. l><irl,u,-*t.\M. [Rare.] 
predesert (pre-de-x.ert'), H. [< pre- + desert 2 .] 
Previous merit or desert. 
Some good offices we do to friends, others to strangers, 
but those are the noblest that we <l<. it 
. 
Sir It. L'Estramjf, tr. of .Seneca's Morals, ii. (Uanet.) 
predesigu ipvc--di;-/in'). r. t. [< LL. praxif- 
.tiiiiniiT.ili -si^'nate lM'fore.< L.//r*, before, + de- 
; desigiiatr, design: see pre- ami 
