prehension 
ing, < prehendere, prendere, pp. prehensits, lay 
hold of, take : see prehend. Cf . prison, a dou- 
blet of prehension.] 1. The act of prehending, 
seizing, or taking hold. 
In a creature of low type the touch of food excites pre- 
hension. II. Spencer, Data of Ethics, {41. 
The trophi serve merely for the prehemion of prey, and 
not for mastication. Darwin, Cirripeala, p. 40. 
2. Apprehension ; mental grasp. 
In these experiments the span of prehension is measured 
by the number of letters and numerals that can be cor- 
rectly repeated after twice hearing, the Interval between 
them In the dictation being about one-half a second. 
Amer. Jour. Ptychol., I. 193. 
prehensor (pre-hen'sor), n. [= F. priuenseur, 
< Xli.*prehensor,(me who seizes/ li.prehendere, 
prendere, pp. prekentut, lay hold of, seize, take : 
see prehend.'] One who or that which prehends 
or lays hold of. [Hare.] 
What was wanted Is a word that should signify to lay 
hold of. ... Prehensor . . . does what is wanted, clear 
of everything that is not wanted. 
Bentham, Equity Dispatch Court Bill, I., 7, 1, note. 
prehensorium (pre-hen-so'ri-um), i. [NL., 
neut. of "preheti^oriug : see prthenxory.] Infii- 
toiH., a part or parts adapted for seizing or 
clasping: specifically applied to the posterior 
legs when the bases are very distant, the femora 
converging, and the tibirc diverging and oppos- 
able, so that each leg forms an inward an- 
gle, generally armed with spines, as in certain 
Aracliiiida, etc. 
prehensory (pre-hen'so-ri), . [< NL. "prelien- 
sorius, serving to seize, < L. prehensor, one who 
seizes: see prehensor.] Same as prehensile. 
prehistoric (pre-his-tor'ik), tt. [= F. preltis- 
torique ; as pre- + historic.] Existing in or 
relating to time antecedent to the beginning 
of recorded history: as, prehistoric races; the 
prehistoric period of a country. 
prehistorical (pre-his-tor'i-kal), a. [< pre- + 
historical.] Same as prehistoric. 
prehistoiics (pre-his-tor'iks), n. [PL of pre- 
historic (see -!<*)] The sum of knowledge re- 
lating to prehistoric times; knowledge which 
has been gained or recovered of epochs ante- 
rior to recorded history. [Hare.] 
Chinese prehistoric* have not as yet been sufficiently 
studied to decide which metal was the Ilrst to be wrought 
in that distant realm. Science, IV. 21. 
prehistory (pre-his'to-ri), n. [<j>rc- + history.] 
History prior to recorded history. 
In some districts of America history and prehistory lie 
far apart. Pop. Set. Mo., XXXIV. 686. 
But the question of the original home of the Aryan na- 
tions is hardly the most important one connected with 
their pre-hiitory. Xetc Princeton llev., V. 2. 
prehnite (pren'It), r. [Named after Col. Frchn, 
who discovered the mineral at the Cape of 
Good Hope in the latter part of the eighteenth 
century.] A mineral, usually of a pale-green 
color and vitreous luster, commonly occurring 
in botryoidal or globular forms with crystalline 
surface. It is a hydrous silicate of aluminium and cal- 
cium, allied to the zeolites, and is found with them in 
veins and geodes, most frequently in rocks of the basaltic 
type. Also called rdelite. 
prehuman (pre-hu'man), n. [<.prc- + human.] 
Occurring or existing before the appearance 
of man upon the earth; pertaining to times 
antecedent to human existence. 
The forms which, on the theory of "development," 
must have connected the human root-stock with the pre- 
human root. R. Praetor, Nature Studies, p. 80. 
preieret, An obsolete spelling of prayer 1 . 
preift, . Same as prief f or proof. 
Preignac (pra-nyak' ), n. [< Preignac : see def .] 
A white wine of Bordeaux, unusually free from 
sweetness, but strong, and keeping for a long 
time. It is produced in the commune of Prei- 
gnac, department of Gironde, France. 
pre-incarnate (pre-in-kiir'nat), n. [< vre-_ + 
inca run te. ] Previous to incarnation : said chief- 
ly of Christ as existing before his assumption 
of human nature. 
The Pre-incarnate Son was In the Form the primal, es- 
sential form of God ; the Incarnate Son appeared in the 
figure the assumed, incidental figure of a man. 
0. D. Boardman, Creative Week, p. 304. 
preindesignate (pre-in-des'ig-nat), a. [< pre- 
+ iii-S priv. 4- designate.] In logic, not having 
the quantity of the subject definitely expressed. 
Propositions have either, as propositions, their quantity, 
determinate or indeterminate, marked out by a verbal sign, 
or they have not ; such quantity being Involved in every 
actual thought : they may be called In the one case (a) 
Predesignate ; in the other (b) Preindesignate. 
Sir W. Hamilton, Lectures on Logic, xlii. 
preindicate (pre-in'di-kat), '. t.', pret. and pp. 
preinilicntiil. \tpr.jireindicating. [< pre- + in- 
4680 
dicate.] To indicate beforehand; foreshow; 
prognosticate. 
For bow many centuries were the laws of electricity 
pre indicated by the single fact that a piece of amber, 
when rubbed, would attract light bodies! 
Proe. Soe. Ptych. Research, I. 62. 
preinstruct (pre-in-strukf), r. t. [< pre- + in- 
struct.] To instruct or direct beforehand. 
As if Plato had been preimtntcted by men of the same 
spirit with the Apostle. 
Dr. U. Mare, Def. of Moral Cabbala. 
preintimation (nre-in-ti-ma'shgn), n. [< pre- 
+ intimation.] Previous intimation ; a sugges- 
tion beforehand. 
preiset, r. and ti. An obsolete spelling of praise. 
prejacentt (pre-ja'sent),fl. [<\>. prqjacen (t-)s, 
ppr. of priejacere, lie before, < prae, before, + 
jacere, tie: seejaceiit.] Constituting a prem- 
ise, especially of a logical conversion. [So Ham- 
ilton, followlng'Schelbler. But Paulus Venetua uses the 
Latin word in a different sense. ) 
prejink(pre-jingk'), . [Abotwrjtal; appar. a 
loose variation of prink, simulating pre- or pcr- 
+ jink*.] Trim; finically dressed out; prinked. 
[Scotch.] 
Mrs. Fen ton, seeing the exposure that ;v/ii Miss Peggy 
had made of herself, laughed for some time as If she was 
by herself. Gait, The Provost, p. 203. 
prejudge (pre-juj'), v. '. ; pret. and pp. pre- 
judged, ppr. prejudging. [< F. prejuger = Sp. 
prcjuzgar = Pg. prejudicar = It. pregiudicare, 
< \j. prsejudicare, judge or decide beforehand, < 
prep, before, + judicare, judge : see judge, v.] 
1. To judge beforehand ; decide in advance of 
thorough investigation; condemn unheard or 
in anticipation. 
The expedition of Alexander into Asia ... at first was 
prejudged as a vast and impossible enterprise. 
Boron, Advancement of Learning, I. 54. 
And prays you'll not prejudge his play for ill 
Because you mark it not, and sit not still. 
B. Jonton, Staple of News, Prol. 
2t. To anticipate in giving judgment; pass 
sentence before. 
By this time suppose sentence given, Cainphas ;>r,y'f/i/;/- 
ing all the sanhedrim ; for he first declared Jesus to have 
spoken blasphemy, and the fact to be notorious, and then 
asked their votes. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 322. 
3f. To prejudice ; impair; overrule. 
The saying of the father may no way prejudge the bish- 
ops' authority, but It excludes the assistance of laymen 
from their consistories. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (cd. 183SX II. 247. 
prejndgment, prejudgement (pre-juj'meut), 
H. [(P. prcjiir/rnii nt ; I\H prejudge + -went.] The 
act of prejudging; judgment before full know- 
ledge or examination of the case; decision or 
condemnation in advance. 
It is not free and Impartial inquiry that we deprecate, 
it is hasty and arrogant prejudgement. 
Up. '. Knox, Two Sermons, p. 39. 
I was not Inclined to call your words raving. I listen 
that I may know, without prejudiflneitt. 
George Eliot, Daniel Deronda, xl. 
prejudicacyt (pre-jo'di-ka-si), n. [< prejudi- 
ca(te) + -cy.] Prejudice; prepossession. 
But rather receive it from mine own eye, not dazzled 
with any affection, prtjudicacy, or mist of education. 
Blount, V oyage to the Levant, p. 8. (Latham.) 
prejudlcal (pre-jo'di-kal),a. [Irreg. < li.prtf- 
judicare, judge or decide beforehand (see pre- 
judicate), + -<il.] Pertaining to the determi- 
nation of some matter not previously decided : 
as, a prejudical inquiry. 
prejudicantt (pre-jo'di-kant), a. [< L. prieju- 
dican(t-)s, ppr. of pr&judicare , judge or decide 
beforehand: see2>rejudicate.] Prejudging; pre- 
judicative. 
If we view him well, and hear him with not too hasty 
and prtjudicant ears, we shall find no such terror in htm. 
Hilton, Tetrachordon. 
prejudicate (pre-j8'di-kat), . ; pret. and pp. 
prejudicuted, ppr. prejudicatina. [< L. prteju- 
dicatus, pp. of prxjudicare, judge or decide be- 
forehand: see prejudge.] I. trans. If. To pre- 
judge; judge overhastily; condemn upon in- 
sufficient infonnation; misjudge. 
To prejudicate his determination is bat a doubt of good- 
ness in him who U nothing but goodness. 
fir I'. Sidney, Arcadia, iv. 
Our dearest friend 
Prejudicatct the business, and would seem 
To have ns make denial. Shale., All's Well, L 2. 8. 
Sir, you too much prejudicate my thoughts ; 
I must give due respect to men of honour. 
Shirley, The Brothers, II. 1. 
Being ambitious to outdo the Earle of Sandwich, whom 
he had jirejudicated as deficient in courage. 
Evelyn, Diary, June 6, 1666. 
2f. To prejudice ; injure ; impair. 
prejudice 
Item, no particular person to hinder or prriudicate the 
common stocke of the company, in sale or preferment of 
his/>wn proper warm. HaHuyfi Voyagtt, L 218. 
H. intrnns. To form overhasty judgments; 
pass judgment prematurely; give condemna- 
tion in advance of due examination. 
I thlnke. In amlnde not preludiced with a pretudieat- 
iHff humor, hee will be found in excellencle fruitefulL 
Sir P. Sidney, ApoL for 1'oetrie. 
prejndicatet (pre-jo'di-kat), a. [= It. pregiii- 
ilii-nto; < L. prxjudieatus, pp.: see the verb.] 
1. Formed before due examination; prema- 
turely conceived or entertained : as, a prejudi- 
cate opinion. 
When I say men of letters, I would be understood to 
mean them who have contracted too great a familiarity 
with books, who are too much wedded to the prejvdieate 
opinions of the Doctors. 
J. Digby, tr. of De Wlcquefort, the Embassador (cd. 1760X 
IP W. 
It is the rhetoric of Satan, and may pervert a loose or 
prejudicate belief. Sir T. Browne, ReUgio Medici, I. 20. 
2. Prejudiced; biased. 
Your link'd ears so loud 
Sing with prejuditatc winds, that nought Is heard 
Of all poor prisoners urge 'gainst your award. 
Chapman, Byron's Tragedy, v. 1 . 
He that shall discourse Euclid's Elements to a swine 
. . . will as much prevail upon his assembly as St. Peter 
and M. Paul coulil do ... upon the Indisposed (ireek, 
and prejudicate Jews. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 18S5), I. 780. 
prejudicatelyt (pre-jo'di-kat-li), adr. In a pre- 
judicate manner; with prejudice. 
We are not too prejudicately to censure what has been 
produced for the proofs of their antiquity. 
Krelyn, Sylva, p. 504. (Latham.) 
prejudicatipn (pre-jS-di-ka'shon), . [< ML. 
prtpjndi<'(ttio(n-), prejudice, damage (not found 
in lit. sense 'a judging beforehand'), < L. prsp- 
jitdicttre, judge beforehand: see ytrejudicute.] 
1. The act of prejudicating; prejudgment ; a 
hasty or premature judgment. 
Prejudicatiotui, having the force of a necessity, had 
blinded generation after generation of students. 
De Quincey, Herodotus. 
2. In Bom. law: (a) A preceding judgment, 
sentence, or decision : a precedent, (h) A pre- 
liminary inquiry and determination about Kome- 
thing that belonged to the matter in dispute. 
prejudicative (prt-jo'di-k4-tiv), </. [< prrju- 
dicate + -ire.] Forming an opinion or judg- 
ment without due examination ; based on an 
opinion so formed. 
A thing as 111 bexeeming philosophers as hasty prejudi- 
cative sentence political judges. 
Dr. //. More, Infinity of Worlds, Pref. 
prejudice (prej'ij-dis), H. [Early mod. E. also 
prejudice; < ME. prejudice, prejudyse, < OF. 
prejudice, also prejuixe, a prejudgment, preju- 
dice, F. prejudice = Pr. prrjudici = Pg. prejui:o 
= Sp. prejuicio, pereuicio = It. pregiudisio, pre- 
judice, < L. prajudiciitm, a preceding judgment, 
sentence, or decision, a precedent, a judicial 
examination before trial, damage, harm, pre- 
judice, < prse, before, + judicium, a judgment, 
a judicial sentence, <judet, a judge: see judge. 
Cf. prejudge.] 1. An opinion or decision formed 
without due examination of the facts or argu- 
ments which are necessary to a just and im- 
partial determination ; a prejudgment ; also, a 
state of mind which forms or induces prejudg- 
ment; bias or leaning, favorable or unfavor- 
able ; prepossession : when used absolutely, 
generally with an unfavorable meaning: as, a 
man of many prejudices; we should clear our 
minds of prejudice. 
Nought mote hinder his quicke prejvdize. 
He had a shin* foresight and working wit 
That never idle was, ne once would rest a whit. 
Spenter, F. Q., it 9. 49. 
They who have already formed their judgment may 
Justly stand suspected of prejudice. 
Dryden, Orig. and Prog, of Satire. 
There Is a prejudice In favour of the way of life to which 
a man has been educated. Stcele, Spectator, No. 544. 
Prejudice is the child of Ignorance. 
Summer, Hon. John Pickering. 
2. Injury, as resulting from unfavorable pre- 
judgment; detriment; hurt; damage. 
Vis Is here entent to make non ordinannce in prejudice 
ne letting of ye comoun lawe. 
Enylith Gildt (E. E. T. S.\ p. S3. 
My vengeance 
Alm'd never at thy prejudice. 
Ford, Broken Heart, v. 2. 
In this cause no man's weakness Is *ny prejudice ; It has 
a thousand sons ; If one man cannot speak, ten others can. 
Emerton, Address, W. I. Emancipation. 
Legitimate prejudice. See legitimate. without pre- 
judice, in law, without damage, namely to one's rights ; 
