preference 
4087 
i : as, the debtor's assignment gave a pref- preflguration (pre-flg-u-ra'shgn), w. [< LL. 
erence to demands for borrowed money; the pnefiguratio(n-), a figuring beforehand: see 
state has a preference for taxes. 3. The object prefiguratc.] The act of prefiguring, or the 
of choice; a person, thing, or course of action state of being prefigured; antecedent repre- 
choseu preferably to others. 4. In the game sentatiou by similitude. 
of boston, one of the two suits of the color of Most of the famous passages of providence (especially 
the card turned up, just after the first deal, the signal afflictions of eminent persons representing our 
The suit turned up is tnujtmt preference, and the other of 
the same color the secoiut preference. These suits are 
Saviour) do seem to have been prefitjuratwn* of or pre- 
ludes to his passion. Barrow, Works, II. xxvll. 
irefigurative (pre-fig'u-ra-tiv), a. [< prefigu- 
rate + -ice.] Showing \jy previous figures, 
types, or similitude. 
All the sacrifices of old instituted by God we may . . . 
afilrm U> have been chiefly preparatory unto, and prefiy- 
vratice of, this most true and perfect sacrifice. 
effects for the equal benefit of all his creditors.- Prefer- 
ence shares or preference stock, in finance, shares or prefigure (pre-fig'ur), r. t. ; pret. and pp. prc- 
[= F. prefigurer = 
tigurare, < LL. prit- 
t liu't one has the first preference who otters in belle, and 
thut one the second preference who offers in petite. 
Fraudulent preference, in bankruptcy, a transfer of 
money or other subject of value to a creditor, with the in- 
tention, on the part of the debtor, of preventing the ope- 
ration of the law of bankruptcy in the distribution of his 
effects for the equal benefit of all his creditors. Prefer- 
ence shares or preference stock, in finance, shares or 
stock on which dividends are payable before those on the figured, ppr. l't'tiyiiritty. [= 
original shares or common stuck. In the United States o n p ,,,; tiiim-tir It tu-< t'n 
^^Z^re^^^p^^ fiO^A befreha V< J L. ^before, + 
Election, etc. (see option); selection. figurare, form, fashion : see figure, t'.] To rep- 
preferential (pref-e-ren'shal), n. [(preference resent beforehand ; show by previous types or 
(ML. prxferentia) "+ -*a<\] Characterized by figures; foreshow; presage. 
At her call, a waking dream 
Prefigured to his sense the Egyptian Lady. 
Wvrdttturth, The Egyptian Maid. 
or having preference ; such as to be preferred. 
The King was allowed a preferential claim on the pub- 
lic revenue, to the amount of 10,000. 
Stubbs, Const. Hist., 323. 
With the revival of Catholic feeling In the seventeenth 
century, and the continued cultus of the Blessed Virgin 
in this and the eighteenth, the Easter plays recovered prefigurement (pre-fig'ur-ment), n. [=It. pre- 
tbeti preferential position ftiiuramento; as prefigure -r' -ment.] The act 
A. (f . H ard, Eng. Dram. Lit, I. a bf prefiguring ; antecedent representation ; pre- 
Ketention in prose of words confined to earlier epic saj?e . prognostication. 
The two young women who constituted at Manulon his 
whole prefigurement of a social circle must. In such a local- 
poetry . . . must not be tortured into conclusive evidence 
as to the place of origin of any portion of the Homeric 
text ; it indicates rather the vigorous preferential uses of 
the Hellenic dialects. Amer. Juur. 1'hilul., VIII. 407. 
, ,. , . m, ., , . . 
preferentially (pref-e-renslml-i), adv. Bypref- 
erenceT in a manner exhibiting preference or preflneH (pre-fin') r. . [< OF. prefix,, F. prt- 
choice m-eferablv. A"' r = .*>!> f : ^'".f =. Il : P^**' < L - l' r - 
choice; preferably. 
The same person . . . will, more likely than not. elect 
" 
"to In prevention." preferentially to "is being prepared." ton, + finire, finish, determine: BeertnwA. Cf. 
F. UaU, Mod. Eng., p. 351. define, etc.] To limit or define beforehand; as- 
sign beforehand as a limit. 
He, in his immoderate desires, prrfinrd tintohimsclf three 
years, which the great monarchs of Rome could not per- 
form in so many hundreds. Knullet, Hist. Turks. 
prefine-t (pre'fiu), w. [< pre- + fine-.] See 
., , ,...,^ . prefinitet (pref ; i-nit), . [< L pra-finitu*, pp. 
Bakeea Bwk (E. E. T. S.), p. 8(5. of prxfinire, determine or hx beforehand: see 
( who doth now Intend, prrfine 1 .] Previously limited or defined; fixed 
beforehand : used with the force of a participle. 
I thinke them no trewc Chrystia.ii men that do not re- 
loyce . . . for the deliuerie of these owrebroothemc, . . . 
accordynge to the time prefinile by hym who . . . hath 
suffered the greate serpente of the sea Lcuiathau to haue 
suche dominion in the ocean. 
Jt. Eden, First Books on America (ed. Arber), p. 50. 
preferment (pre-fer'ment), . f= It. preferi- 
mento; as prefer + -went.] 1. The act of pre- 
ferring or esteeming more highly, or the state 
of being preferred; choice; preference; ad- 
vancement; promotion. 
For your preferment resorte 
To such as may you vanntage. 
Baltees fit- 
To get preferment who doth 
He by a golden ladder must ascend. 
Time* WhMe (E. E. T. S.), p. 47. 
Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me, 
In the preferment of the eldest sister. 
Shak., T. of the S., ii. 1.94. 
Some trim fellows will not stick to maintain a brave 
paradox : that the opinion and semblance of things neither 
ever was, nor is now, inferior to the very tilings them- 
selves, but in preferment and reputation many times su- 
perior. 
prefinitiont (pref-i-ni8b.'qn). w. [= Sp. prefini- 
. .,,., <"> = It. i>refini-ionc, <' LL. pra-fi>iitio(n-), a 
They that enter into the Ministry for prefer,*,* are determining or fixing beforehand, < L. ,,r 
like Judas that lookt after the Bag. pinre, pp. prirjimtus, determine or fix before- 
Selden, Table-Talk, p. 30. h an d : see prefine 1 .] Prior definition or limita- 
Many Frenchmen, and even Italians, of whom nothing tion. 
else is known, were enriched with English preferment. 
Stubbs, Medieval and Modem Hist., p. 129. 
prefract 
to the beginning of a word, to qualify its mean- 
ing or direct its application: opposed to suffix 
or postfix, a like addition at the end of a word. 
A prefix proper Is an Inseparable element, never used 
alone, asprr- In prefix, con- In conjure, in- In inactioe, im- 
in uiiwrn, etc. ; but prepositions and primitive adverbs 
used In composition are usually accounted prefixes, as 
fore- lit furetail, dou'n In downfall, in In income, etc. By 
a looser use such recurring elements as eqvi-. multt-, ito-, 
mono-, poly-, etc., In compounds of Latin or Greek origin 
or formation, are called prefixes, though they are properly 
Independent words in the original language. There Is no 
hard and fast line between a prefix and the .Initial ele- 
ment of a compound. 
2. The act of prefixing; prefixiou. 
The prrfii of the definite article. 
Kuliy, Latin Clrammar, I. xvlll. 
Prefix language, a language which (like those of South 
Africa) makes its forms mainly by the use of prefixed 
rather than of suffixed elements, 
prefixal (pre'fik-sal), a. [< prefix + -al.] Of 
the nature of a prefix; characterized by pre- 
fixes. 
The prefixal languages of Africa. 
Jour. AnUirop. IntL, XVIL 170. 
By an oblation of the Mood of beast, was prefixed the PTeflxatlom (pre-fik-sa'shon), [< prefix + 
blood of that Lamb which should expiate all our sins. -atton.] The use of prefixes; prefixiou. [Kare.J 
Her. T. Adami, Works, II. 3. Ky prrfixatiun and sutfixation a considerable number of 
tenses and modes are formed In the verb. 
Amer. Antiquarian, XII. 121. 
prefixion (pre-fik'shon), H. [< prefix + -ion.] 
The act of prefixing. 
prefirture (pre-fiks'tnr), H. [< prefix + -tare, 
after fixture.] ' 8&meaprefixion. J. A. II. Mur- 
ray, 8th Ann. Address to Philol. Assoc., p. 41. 
prefloration (pre-flo-ra'shon), w. [Also prte- 
floration; = F.prSfioraisdii, < L. prse, before, 
-I- *fioratio(n-), <fiorare, blossom, flower, < flog 
(fior-), a flower, a bloom: seefiotccr.] lubot., 
estivation. 
prefoliation (pre-f6-li-a'shon),M. [< L.;>ne, be- 
fore, + 'foliatio(n-), <//ia/r, put forth leaves, 
</o/iMm,leaf: sn- foliation.] In bof., vernation. 
prefoolt (pre-foT), t'. t. [< ]>re- + fool.] To 
fool beforehand; anticipate in foolery. 
Ill tell you a better project, wherein no courtier has 
prefaul'd you. Shirley, Bird In a Cage, 11. 1. 
preforceps (pre-f6r'seps), n. pi. [NL., < L. prse, 
before, + forcej>s, q. v.] Certain anterior fibers 
of the corpus callosum which curve forward 
into the frontal lobe of the cerebrum, and are 
likened to a pair of forceps in front of the cal- 
losum. 
preform (pre-form' ), f. t. [= F. preformer = It. 
preformare, < L. prseformare, form beforehand, 
prepare, < prse. before, + formare, shape, fash- 
ion: see form.] 1. To form beforehand ; exe- 
cute or create previously. 
Why all these things change from their ordinance 
Their natures and preformed faculties 
To monstrous quality. Shale., J. ('., L S. 67. 
2. In biol, to determine beforehand the shape 
or form of; furnish the mold or model of 
(something afterward to take shape) : as, bone 
preformed in cartilage ; the fetal skeleton pre- 
forms that of the adult. 
ity us that, be taking a regular holiday. 
//. Jamet, Jr., The Century, XXXI. 91. 
finirc, determine or fix beforehand, < prf, be- 
f!od hath encompassed all the kingdoms of the earth ... 
with a threefold restraint : to wit, a limitation of their preformation (pre-f6r-ma'shon), M. [= F. pr6- 
2. A superior place or office, especially m the p^era^adrcumscription ^J'j^, / bo A u , I ^ i ^ d 1 a ^^ formation = It. prcformazione, < L. prteforma- 
church. 
rum of their periods. 
Fotherby, Atheomastlx, p. 270. 
I have a very small fortune, no preferment, nor any prefix (prp-fiks ), r. t. [< Or . prefixer, F. prc- 
frieuds who are likely to give me any. fixer = Sp. jtrefijar = Pg. prefixar, < ML. prte- 
Sydney Smith, in Lady Holland, iv. ^^ < './ J - .-..: 
. , 
, pp A prxfigere ( > It. pre- 
preferrer (pre-ierer;, n. iv prejer -.j iu front . put a f the beginning. 
M^sasffissss- 1 " ^ to %a,*i^s 
This admonition finding small entertainment, the au- prefix your name before them. Bacon, Essays, Ded. 
^ZS^ bei " g ' mPrl80Iied ' ; St. To fix beforehand; set or appoint in ad- 
Bp. Bancroft, Dangerous Proceedings, lii. 2. (Latham.) vance ; settle beforehand. 
2f. One who advances or promotes; afurtherer. 
Doctor Stephens, secretary, and D. Foxe, almoalner, 
were the chiefe furtherers, preferrers, and defenders on 
the kings behalfe of the said cause. 
Foxe, Martyrs, p. 1688, an. 1566. 
r< 
And now he hath to her preJM a day. 
Speruar, F. Q., V. xL 40. 
The hour draws on 
Prefix'd by Angelo. Shak., M. for U., iv. 3. 83. 
Or wcrt thou of the golden-winged host, 
Who, having clad thyself In human weed. 
To earth from thy prefixed seat didst post? 
Millon, Death of a Fair Infant, 1. 59. 
Aganst the prefixed time, the women A children, with y 
ere sent to y place In a small barke. 
Bradford, Plymouth Plantation, p. 13. 
I would prefix some certain boundary between them. 
Sir M. Bale, Hist, Com. Law of Eng. 
prefidentt (pref'i-dent), a. [< L. priefiden(t-).i, 
trusting too much, 'taken in lit. sense 'trusting 
before ' (hence prematurely), < pree, before, + 
fiden(t-)s, ppr. of fidere, trust: see faith. Cf. go 2S* n "ere sJnfti y pl^ In a small bark 
confident.] Trusting previously; overtrustful. Bn " 
Baxter. [Rare.] 
prefigurate (pre-fig'u-rat), v. t. ; pret. and pp. 
);/< -tinitrated, ppr. prefiguratinij. [< LL. pryfi- m&ta. (pre'fiks), n. [= F. prefixe = Sp. M ,, 
', pp. of i>rsefigurure, prefigure : see pre- _ pg prefixo = It. prefisxo, < NL. prsefixum. a 
To show by antecedent representa- prefix, neut. of L. prsefixus, pp. of pr;rtiii>ri-. 
tion; prefigure. [Rare.] prefix: see prefix, v.] 1. A word or syllable. 
When from thy native soil love had thee driven or a number of syllables, rarely more than 
(Thy siifc return prt*awratia\ a heaven j wo all( i usually one (sometimes reduced to a 
Of faltering ^JJ^^ ^S^S^W. Alexander, single consonant not forming a syllable), affixed 
tio(n-),<.preeformare, form beforehand : seepre- 
form.] Antecedent formation ; shaping in ad- 
vance Theory of preformation, a doctrine respect- 
ink' generation or reproduction, prevalent down to and 
during the eighteenth century, according to which every 
Individual is fully and completely preformed In the germ, 
the development of which consists in the growth and 
unfolding of preexisting parts that U to say, the perfect 
individual has always been there, and simply grows from 
m icroscopic to visible proportion a, without developing any 
new parts. See inoufm* N/. 
prefonnationist (pre-f6r-ma'8hon-i8t),n. [< 
preformation + -fit.] A believer in the doctrine 
of preformation. Encyc. Brit., XXIV. 815. 
preformative (pre-f6r'm-tiv), a. and n. [< L. 
prseformatug, pp. olvrirjbrmare, form or mold 
beforehand (see preform), + -ire.] I. a. Form- 
ing beforehand; pursuing a course of prefor- 
mation ; containing the essential germs of later 
development. 
Furthermore, the apostolic Ohristlsnity is prcformatice, 
and contains the living germs of all the following periods, 
personages, and tendencies. 
&ha/. Hist Christ Church, I. I 21. 
n. n. In philol., a formative letter or sylla- 
ble at the beginning of a word; a prefix, 
prefractt (pre-fraktO, a. [< L. prtefractus, bro- 
ken off, abrupt, stern, pp. of prvfringerf, break 
off before, < prse, before, + franaere, break : see 
./Vcfiii.] Obstinate; inflexible; refractory. 
Thou . . wast so prefract and stout In religion. 
J. Bradford, Works (Parker 8oc.\ I. 474. 
Yet still he stands prefract and Insolent. 
Ckapman, Byron's Tragedy, IT. 1. 
