prepare 
instruction for any definite action or direction 
of thought: as, to prepare a person for bad 
news ; to prepare a boy for college. 
do you to Juliet ore yon go to bed, 
I'rrinte her, wife, against tills wedding-day. 
Shot., K. andJ., III. 4. 32. 
The Baptizing of Children with us doei only prepare a 
child, against he comet to be a man, to understand what 
Christianity means. Seiden, Table-Talk, p. 19. 
The servant retired, found a priest, confessed himself, 
came back, aud told his lord Hint he was now prepared to 
die. WalpoU, Letters, II. 188. 
Still prepared, 
It seemed, to meet the worst his worn heart feared. 
William Horn*, Earthly Paradise, II. 314. 
3. To equip ; fit out ; provide with necessary 
means. 
Why, then, the champions tie prepared, and stay 
Kor nothing but his majesty's approach. 
Shak., Elch. II., I. 3. 5. 
4. To provide or procure for future use; hence, 
to make; form; compound; manufacture. 
When the spirits are low, and nature sunk, the Muse, 
with sprightly and harmonious notes, gives an unexpect- 
ed turn with a grain of poetry : which I prepare without 
the use of mercury. Steele, Taller, No. 47. 
He prepared a circular letter to be sent to the different 
parts of the country. Prescott, Ferd. and Isa., II. 17. 
Although the Chinese prepare their ink from the kernel 
of some amygdalaceous fruit, yet, by the aid of our pres- 
ent chemical appliances, we are able to produce a compo- 
sition In no way inferior to the best China ink. 
Ure, Diet., IV. 436. 
5. Ill music: (a) To lead up to by causing a 
dissonance to appear first as a consonance: as, 
the discord was carefully prepared. See prep- 
aration, 9. (l>) To lead into (a tone or embel- 
lishment) by an appoggiatura or other prefatory 
tone or tones Prepared trill, a trill preceded by a 
turn or other embelliohment. 
It. intrant. 1. To make everything ready; 
put things in order beforehand. 
Boyet, prepare ; I will away to-night. 
Shot., L. L. L., v. 2. 737. 
2. To make one's self ready; equip one's self 
mentally or materially for future action. 
Prepare to meet thy flo<l, O Israel. Amos iv. 12. 
And now his voice, accordant to the string, 
Prepares our monarch's victories to sing. 
Uatdtmith, Captivity, 11. 69. 
prepare (pre-par'), [< prepare, v.] Prepa- 
ration. [Obsolete or technical.] 
flo levy men, and make prepare for war. 
Shale., 3 Hen. VI., Iv. 1. 131. 
As prepares for steam-colours, all the antiinonlal com- 
pounds hitherto tried have shown themselves Inferior to 
tin. W. Cronlces, Dyeing and Calico-printing, p. 542. 
preparedly (pre-par'ed-li), adv. With suitable 
preparation. 
The queen . . . desires instruction. 
That she preparei/ly may frame herself 
To the way she 's forcea to. 
Shot., A. and C., v. 1. 55. 
preparedness (pre-par'ed-nes), n. The state of 
being prepared ; readiness: as, prejmredness for 
action or service. 
Besides actually doing a thing, we know what It Is to be 
in an attitude or disposition of preparedness to act. 
A. Bain, Emotions and Will, p. 551. 
preparement (pre-par'ment), H. [= Sp. pre/xi- 
ramenta, preparnmienlo = It. prepuramento, < 
ML. prteparamentum, preparation, < L. priepa- 
rarr, make ready beforehand' see prepare.'] 
Preparation. [Rare.] 
The soldier that dares not flght affords the enemy too 
much advantage for his preparement. Fetlham, Resolve*. 
preparer (pre-par'er), H. [< prcjMirc + -er'.J 
One who prepares. 
They [teachers] will be led to require of the preparertot 
school-books a more conscientious performance of their 
tasks. K. L. ymiinaus. In (irove's Corr. of Force*, p. viil. 
preparoccipital (pre-par-ok-sip'i-tal), a. [< 
I'll- + jmroccipital.] Lying anteriorly in the 
paroccipital gyre of the brain : applied to a fis- 
sure. 
prepatellar (pre-pat'e-lftr), a. [< L. prte, be- 
fore. + piitHlii, patella.]' Situated in front of 
or over the patella. _ Prepatellar burta, a subcuta- 
neous bnrsa situated OVIT the patella and upper part of 
the llgamentum patella;. 
prepay <pre-pa'), r. t.; pret. and pp. prepaid. 
ppr. prepaying. [< pre- + jwiyi.] 1. To pay 
beforehand, as for an article In-fore getting 
ssionof if, or for service before it hag been 
reiiilereil: us. to pi-i pay a Miliseription ; to pre- 
imy postage or freight. 2. To pny the charge 
upon in advance: ax, to />/ //// a letter or a tele- 
gram : In iin IIIHI an express parcel. 
prepayment <pre-|,a'ment), . [4 pre- + i>uii- 
iii' n t. ] The act of paying beforehand ; payment 
in advance, as of postage or rent. 
4696 
prepeduncle (prc-pe-dung'kl), . [< NL. prte- 
pednnculiiMjt L. prir. before, + pedunculug, pe- 
duncle: see peduncle.] The superior peduncle 
of the cerebellum. 
prepeduncular (pre-pe-dung'kii-liir), a. [< nre- 
/ii'/tincle (NL. prtvpeilnnculuti) + -ar 3 .] Per- 
taining to the prepeduncle. 
prepedunculate(pre-pe-dung'ku-lat), a. [< 
/< /><'<liiiifle(XL. priepedunculus) + -ate*.] Per- 
taining to the prepeduncle. 
prepelvisternal (pre-pel-vi-ster'nal), a. [<prte- 
pelvisternum + -?.] Pertaining to the prtepel- 
visternum 
prepelvisternum, . See prtepelvisternvm. 
prepenset (pre-pens'), c. [Formerly also pre- 
pence ; < ME. prepensen, < OF. prepenger = It. 
prepensare, < ML. "prsepengare, think of before- 
hiiinlX L. prx, before, 4- pensare, think, consid- 
er, deliberate: see poise.} I. trans. 1. To con- 
sider beforehand ; think upon in advance. 
All these thinges preprinted, . . . gathered together sc- 
rlousely, and . . . iustely pondred. 
Sir T. Elyot, The Oovernour, 1. 25. 
And ever In your noble hart prepense 
That all the sorrow in the world is lease 
Then vertues might and values confidence. 
Spenser, F. Q., III. iL 11. 
Certain penalties may and ought to be prescribed to 
capital crimes, although they may admit variable degrees 
of guilt: as in case of murder upon prepenned malice. 
Winthrop, Hist, New England, II. 252. 
2. To plan or devise beforehand ; contrive pre- 
viously. 
The seid Duke of Suffolk, . . . prepenriny that yonr eid 
grete enemeye and advursarie Charles schuld conquerr 
and gete be power and myght your seid realinc, . . . conn- 
celled . . . your hetghnesse to enlarge and deliver out of 
prison the same Duke of Orliaunce. Paston Letters, 1. 100. 
I would not have the king to pardon a voluntary mur- 
der, a prepensed murder. 
Latimer, 5th Sermon bef. Edw. VI., 1549. 
H. intrans. To reflect or meditate beforehand. 
To thlnke, consydre, and prepenee. 
Sir T. Kl'jat, The Governour, Hi. 24. 
prepense (pre-pens'), n. [With loss (in pro- 
nunciation) of the orig. accented final vowel 
(as in eoxlive and other instances), < OF. prc- 
penxc, < ML. "pnepcusiituH, pp. of "preepennarc, 
tliink of beforehand: see prepense, t'.] Consid- 
ered and planned beforehand: premeditated; 
purposed; intentional: generally in the phrase 
malirr prepense (formerly ulso prepensed malice). 
From that period whatever resolution they took was de- 
liberate and prepense. Junius, Letters, xxxlx. 
The fashion of their eloquence i- more deliberate and 
more prepente. fiiciitburnr, Study of Shakespeare, p. 61). 
Malice prepense. See malice. 
prepensely (prf-pena'li), adr. Premeditately ; 
deliberately; purposely; intentionally. 
Shakespeare . . . has set himself as If prepensely and 
on purpose tohmtallsc the type of Achilles aud spiritual- 
ise the type of t'lyttses. 
Sirinburne, Study of Shakespeare, p. 201. 
prepensive (pre-pen 'si v), a. [< prepense + -/re.] 
(Same as prej>ense. 
The carrying the penknife drawn Into the room with 
you . . . seems to imply malice prepensive, as we call it 
in the law. Fielding, Amelia, L 10. 
preperception (pre-per-sep'shon), n. [< pre- 
+ perception.] A previous perception. 
Just as perceptions arc modified \yypre-pereeptiani, and 
the action of a stimulus Is completed by the reaction of 
the Organism. 
O. H. Lewet, Probs. of Life and Mind, II. si. | 28. 
prepigmental (pre-pig'men-tal), a. [<pre- + 
pigmental.] Situated within the pigmeuted 
layer of the eye, as in some cuttlefishes. 
prepitultary (pre-pit'u-i-ta-ri), a. [< pre- + 
pituitary.'] Situated in front of the pituitary 
fossa. 
preplacental (pre-pla-sen'tal), a. [< pre- + 
placental.] Prior to the formation of a placen- 
ta ; previous to the establishment of placental 
connection between the fetus and the parent. 
Amir, \ntiiraliiit, XXIII. 926. 
prepollence (pre-poi'gns), . [< prepollfn(t) 
+ -ce.] Prevalence ; predominance ; superi- 
ority in power or influence. [Bare.] 
The prepuUencr of evil lu the world. Wartnn. 
prepollency (pre-pol'eu-si), n. [Asnrcpollence 
(ge-ey).] Same as prcpollmrt. [Rare.] 
Sometlmeis In a more refined and highly nhiloMiphlck 
sense, Oniris is the whole active force of the universe, 
considered as having i prepotency of good In ft* effecU. 
Cofeiitr;/, Philemon to Hydaspea, III. 
prepollent (pre -parent), a. [< L. prtepol- 
/' ni I- iv. ppr. of firtriHilli i> . siirpasn in power, be 
liiKlily ilistiiit'niKlied, < ///, In-fore, + pollerc, 
be powerful: see pollrnt.] Having superior 
power or influence; predominant. [Rare.] 
preponderate 
If the benefits are prepollent, ... a rational, prudent, 
and moderate mind should be content to bear the disad- 
vantages. Bp. Huntingford, To Lord Somen. 
prepollez (pre-pol'eks), .; pi. prepollices (-i- 
sez). [XL. prtrpollcz, < L. prte, before, + pol- 
l'.r, tlie thumb: see pollrx.] A supeniumerary 
bone or cartilage of the fore foot of some ani- 
mals, corresponding to the prehallux of the hind 
foot. See prehallux. 
Prof. Bardeleben has discovered traces of a prepoUex 
and a preliallux in certain Keptllla. 
Amer. Naturalist, XXIIL 921. 
prepondert (pre-pon'der), v. t. [= Sp. Pg. pre- 
ponderar = It. preponderare, < L. prseponde- 
rare, be of greater weight, out weigh, be of 
more influence, < prte, before, beyond, -I- pon- 
derare, weigh: see ponder.] To outweigh; pre- 
ponderate. 
Though pillars by channeling lie beseemlngly Ingrowed 
to our sight, yet they are truly weakened in themselves, 
and therefore ought perchance in sound reason not to be 
the more slender, but the more corpulent, unless appar- 
encespwpoiufer truths. Sir H. Wattm, Reliquiae, p. -J7. 
preponderance (pre-pon'der-ans), n. [= F. 
preponderance = Sp. Pg. preponderancia = It. 
preponderant, < L. prponderan(t-)n, ppr. of 
pnejtondcrare, outweigh: see preponderant.] 1. 
The state or quality of preponderating or out- 
weighing; superiority in weight: as, prepon- 
derance of metal. 2. Superiority in force, in- 
fluence, quantity, or number; predominance. 
He did not find . . . that any other foreign powers than 
our own allies were likely Ui obtain a considerable pre- 
ponderance in the scale. Burke, Army Estimates. 
In his speeches we are struck more by the general 
mental power they display than by the preponderance, of 
any particular faculty. Whipple, Ess. and Rev. , I. 186. 
There was a preponderance of women, as is apt to lie the 
case in such resorts. 
C. D. Warner, Their Pilgrimage, p. 7. 
3. In gun., the excess of weight of that part of 
a gun which is to the rear of the trunnions over 
that in front of them, it IB measured tiy the force, 
expressed in pounds, which must bv applied under the rear 
end of the base-ring or neck of the cascabel in order to 
balance the gun exactly with the axisnf the bore horizon- 
tal, when supported freely on knife-edges placed under 
the trunnions. 
preponderancy (pre-pon'der-an-si), . [Asprc- 
ponderance (see -<#).] Same &s preponderance. 
A preponderance of those circumstances which have a 
tendency to move the Inclination. 
Edtcards, On the Will, lit 7. 
preponderant (pre-pon'der-ant), a. [= F. pre- 
ponderant = Sp. Pg. It. preponderant^', \ L. 
pr{Fponderan(t-)s, ppr. of pr/ejtoiiderare, out- 
weigh: see preponder, preponderate.] Out- 
weighing; preponderating; superior in weight, 
force, efficiency, or influence; predominant; 
prevalent. 
The preponderant scale must determine. Reid. 
The power of the House of Commons in the state had 
become so decidedly preponderant that no sovereign . . . 
could have Imitated the example of James. 
Macaulaii, Hist. Eng., vll. 
The preponderant benefits of law. 
liuthnett, Moral I'ses of Dark Things, p. 54. 
No thoughtful person can have failed to observe, In any 
throng, the preponderant look of unrest and dissatisfaction 
In the human eye. '. 6'. Phelps, lleyond thetiates, p. 119. 
preponderantly (pre-pon'der-ant-li), adv. In 
a preponderant manner or degree ; BO as to pre- 
ponderate or outweigh. 
preponderate (pre-pon'der-at), r. ; pret. and 
pp. preponderated, ppr. preponderating. [< L. 
prsejionderatus, pp. of prtrponderare, outweigh: 
see preponder.'] I. trans. 1. To outweigh; sur- 
pass in weight, force, efficiency, or influence. 
An inconsiderable weight, by vertue of Its distance from 
the centre of the ballance, will preponderate much greater 
magnitudes. Glanrille, \ anlty of Dogmatizing, xv. 
The trlvlallest thing, when a passion is cast into the 
scale with It, preponderates substantial blessings. 
Government of the Tonirtte, 
2t. To cause to lean or incline in a particular 
direction; dispose; induce to a particular 
course of action or frame of mind. 
The desire to spare Christian blood preponderates him 
for peace. Fuller. 
3f. To ponder or mentally weigh beforehand. 
How many things do they preponiieratet bow many at 
once comprehend 1 flna/lrtbury, Moralists, II. I 4. 
II. iHlrinin. 1. To exceed in weight; hence, 
to incline or droop, as the scale of a balance. 
That Is no just balance wherein the heaviest *iilr ill 
\vAprepmuleratr. Up WOtins. 
I will assert nothing but whatuhall Iw reasonable, though 
not demonstrable, and far preptntderatimj to whatever Khali 
be alleUged to the contrary. 
Dr. H. More, Immortal, uf -,.nl. in. 1. 
