preponderate 
Royalty, nobility, and state 
Are such :i dead preponderating weight, 
That endless bliss (how strange soe'er It seem) 
In counterpoise flies up and kicks the beam. 
Cowper, Truth, L 354. 
2. To have superior power, influence, force, or 
efficiency; predominate; prevail. 
Down to the very day and hour of the final vote, no one 
could predict, with any certainty, which aide would pre- 
ponderate. D. Webtter, Speech at PitUburg, July, 1833. 
preponderatingly (pre-pon'der-a-ting-li), aitr. 
Preponderantly. 
The book is prepamleratiiigly full of lierself. 
W. R. Qrey, Misc. Ess., 1st ser., p. 178. 
preponderation (pre-pon-de-ra'shon), H. [< Li. 
/n;-< /><nut<'i-atio(n-), an outweighing, < pnepoit- 
tlerare, pp. preeponderatus, outweigh: see pre- 
ponder, preponderate.] 1. The act or state of 
preponderating or outweighing; preponderance. 
It Is a preponderation of circumstantial arguments that 
must determine our actions in a thousand occurrences. 
Watt*, Logic, II. 6, | 3. 
Choice and preference can no more be In a state of in- 
difference than motion can be in a state of rest, or than 
the preponderation of the scale of a balance can be In a 
state of equilibrium. Kdtcards, On the Will, II. 7. 
2t. The act of pondering or mentally weighing 
beforehand. 
preponderous (pre-pon'der-us), . [< prepon- 
iler + -ous. Of. ponderous.'] Preponderant; 
exceeding in quantity or amount: as, the pre- 
ponderoun constituents of a chemical solution. 
prepontile (pre-pon'til), a. [< L. prse, before, 
+ pon(t-)n, bridge: see pantile.] Situated in 
front of the pons Varohi: as, the prepontile 
recess: opposed to poxtpontile. See cut uuder 
brain. 
preportt (pre-porf), v. t. [< L. prteportare, 
carry before', < prte, before, 4- portfire, carry : 
see port 3 .] To presage ; forebode. 
Pyraustie gaudes gaudlum : your inconstant joy pre- 
port* annoy. Withal*, Diet. (ed. 1634), p. 576. (Xares.) 
propose (pre-poz'), r. t. ; pret. andpp.7)reofrf, 
ppr. i>rej>oxiii(j. [< OF. proposer, F.preposer, 
place before ; as pre- + pose'*. Cf . L. priepo- 
nere, pp. prtepositus, set before: see preponi- 
tiott.] To place before or in front of some- 
thing else ; prefix. 
It is a word often read prepoted before other words. 
Hnlii'i'll, Arabic Trudgman ( I.M.M, p. UO. (Latham.) 
I did deem It most convenient tHprepwe mine epistle, 
only to beseech you to account of the poems as toys. 
W. Percy, Sonnets (1564), Pref. {Latham.) 
preposition (prep-o-zish'on), n. [< ME. jirepo- 
sieioii, < OF. preposition, F. preposition = Sp. 
preposition = Pg. preposic&o = It. preposi~ione, 
< L. prxpositio(n-), a placing before, in gram, 
(translating Or. irpMeoie) a preposition, < prx- 
ponere, pp. jineparif M#, set before, place first, < 
prx, before. + ponere, set, place: see position. 
Ct.prepose.] 1 (pre-po-zish on). The act of pro- 
posing, or placing before or in front of some- 
thing else. [Rare.] 
Mr. Herbert Spencer, In his Essay on the Philosophy of 
Style, contrasting the English preposition with the French 
postposition of the adjective, prefers the English usage. 
Amer. Jour. Philol., VI. S4& 
2. In gram., something preposed; a prefixed 
element; a prefix; one of a body of elements 
(by origin, words of direction, having an ad- 
verbial character) in our family of languages 
often used as prefixes to verbs and verbal de- 
rivatives; especially, an indeclinable part of 
speech regularly placed before and governing 
a noun in an oblique case (or a member of 
the sentence having a substantive value), and 
showing its relation to a verb, or an adjective, 
or another noun, as in, of, from, to, by, etc. Ab- 
breviated pre2>. 3t. A proposition; exposition; 
discourse. 
He made a longe prepoacimi and oration concernynge y 
allegiance which he exortyd his lordes to owe A here to 
hym fory terme of his lyfe. Fabyan, Chron., I. cxxxiii. 
The said Sir John Bushe, in all his prepotitioiu to the 
king, did not onely attribute to him worldly honours but 
diulne names. (Iraflon, Rich. II., an. 21. 
Prayse made before a great man. or preposition, ha- 
rengue. Paltyrave. (HalliiceB.) 
prepositional (prep-o-zish'on-al), n. [= F. 
l>ri'-p<>xitioiiiiel; as preposition -tr-al.] Pertain- 
ing to or having the nature or function of a 
preposition : as. t lie /in i>i>siH<nuil use of a word. 
Prepositional phrase, a phrase consisting of a noun 
with em-erning prepositinn, ami having adjectival or ad- 
verbial value : as, a house of wood ; he spoke trith haste. 
prepositipnally (prep'-o-zish'on-iil-i), iittr. Ill 
a prepositional manner: as, "concerning "is a 
partici)ile used OTtJpOiMitmaOf. 
prepositive (pre-poz'i-tiv), .'and 11. [= F.pre- 
' = Pg. It. prrpoxitiro, < LL. prirpoxitirux, 
4697 
that is set before, < L. prteponere, pp. prsepositus, 
set before, prefer: see preposition,] I. a. Put 
before ; prefixed : as, a prepositiee particle. 
These preporilirt conjunctions, once separated from the 
others, soon gave birth to another subdivision. 
llorne Tooke, Diversions of Purley, I. Ix. 
II. n. A word or particle put before another 
word. 
Grammarians were not ashamed to have a class of post- 
positive prepotitines. 
Sunn Taalce, Diversions of Purley, I. ix. 
prepositor, praepositor (pre-poz'i-tor), n. [< 
ML. prirpoxitor, < L. prteponere, pp. prsepositux, 
set or place before : see preposition.] A scholar 
appointed to oversee or superintend other schol- 
ars, or hold them in discipline ; a monitor. Also 
prepostor, priepostor. 
While at Winchester, he ISydney .Smith) had been one 
year Prmtotitor of the College, and another Prrpotitur 
of the Hall. Lady Holland, Sydney Smith, i. 
prepositure (pre-poz'i-tur), w. [= Sp. Pg. It. 
prepoxitura, < LL. preepoxitura, the office of an 
overseer, < L. prxponerc, pp. preepositus, set or 
place before or over: see preposition.] The 
office or place of a provost ; a provostslnp. 
The king gave him the prepositure of Wells, with the 
prebend annexed. Up. Loicth, Wykehant, f 1. 
The possessions conveyed are described as messuages 
and tenements In Car kt- und Howlker within the preponi- 
ture and manor of Cartroell. 
Quoted In Baines's Hist. Lancashire, II. 679. 
prepossess (pre-po-zes' ), r. t. [< pre- + possess.] 
1. To preoccupy, as ground or land ; take pre- 
vious possession of. 
Wisedome, which being given alike to all Ages, cannot 
be prepouest by the Ancients. 
Milton, Reformation in Eng., i. 
Permitting others of a later Extraction to prepotuie** that 
Place in Your Esteem. Coiujrew, Way of the World, Ded. 
2. To preoccupy the mind or heart of ; imbue 
beforehand with some opinion or estimate; 
bias ; prejudice : as, his appearance and man- 
ners strongly prepoesested them in his favor. 
Prepossess is more frequently used in a good sense than 
prejudice, and the participial adjective prepossessing has 
always a good sense. 
Master Montague is preparing to go to Paris as a Mes- 
senger of Honour, to prepossess the K Ing and < 'mincil there 
with the Truth of Things. Ilmcrli, Letters, I. Iv. 20. 
They were so prepossest with this matter, aitd affected 
with y same, as they commiUxl M l . Alden to prison. 
Bradford, Plymouth Plantation, p. 318. 
Let not prejudice prepossess you. 
/. Walton, Complete Angler, p. 31. 
To confess a truth, he has not prepossessed me In his fa- 
vour. Goldsmith, Vicar, v. 
prepossessing (pre-po-zes'ing), p. a. Predis- 
posing the miiul to favor; making a favorable 
impression; pleasing; attractive: as, a prepos- 
sessing address. 
A young man of prepraa'xrintt appearance and gentle- 
manly deportment, Barhain, Ingoldsby Legends, 1. 190. 
Syn. Attractive, taking, winning. 
prepossessingly (pre-po-zes'ing-li), adv. In a 
prepossessing manner; in such a way as to 
produce a favorable impression. 
prepossession (pre-po-zesh'on), n. [< pre- + 
jxisxession.] 1. The act of taking possession 
beforehand; preoccupation; prior possession. 
flod hath taken care to anticipate and prevent every 
man to give piety the prepo*se*rion, before other competi- 
tors should be able to pretend to him ; and so to engage 
him in holiness first, and then in bliss. 
Hammond, Fundamentals. 
2. The state of being prepossessed ; predispo- 
sition; prejudice, usually of a favorable na- 
ture; hence, liking; favorable opinion. 
They that were the hearers and spectators of what our 
Saviour said and did had mighty and inveterate prepos- 
tetriotu to struggle with. Sharp, Works, 1 vl. 
Such a hovering faith as this, which refuses to settle 
upon any determination, is absolutely necessary ill a mind 
that is careful to avoid errors and prepossessions. 
Addison, Spectator, N<>. 117. 
When yon acknowledge her Merit, and own your Pre- 
possession for another, at once, you gratify my Fondness, 
and cure my Jealousy. Steete, Conscious Lovers, li. 1. 
So long has general improvement to contend with the 
force of habit and the passion of prepossession. 
I. D'liraeU, Amen, of Lit., I. 14& 
Syn. 2. Bias, bent. 
prepossessor ( pre-po-zes'or), n. [< pre- + pos- 
>-.>'.vor.] One who prepossesses; one who pos- 
sesses before another. 
They signify only a bare prepoaettor, one that possessed 
the land before the present possessor. Brady, Glossary. 
preposter (prf-pos'ter), w. Same as prepostor. 
Intrusting more or less of the discipline to an aristoc- 
racy of the scholars themselves, whether under the name 
of prefects, monitors, at prepoltert. 
Blaclmood'i Mag., I. 75. 
prepotent 
preposteratet (pre-pos'te-rat), r. *. [< prepos- 
tcr-otm + -ate'.] To invert; pervert; make 
preposterous. 
I never saw thinge done by you which prepotteratert or 
perverted the good judgment that all the world esteemeth 
to shine In you. Palace of Pleasure, II., 8. 7. b. (Sara.) 
preposterous (we-pos'te-rus), a. [= Sp. pre- 
poxtero = Pg. It. prejtostero, < L. prteposterus, 
with the hinder part before, reversed, inverted, 
perverted, < prte, before, 4- posterus, coming 
after: see posterity.] It. Having that last 
which ought to be first; reversed in order or 
arrangement; inverted. 
Ye haue another manner of disordered speach, when ye 
misplace your words or clauses and set that before which 
should be behind, & e conuerso ; we call it, In English prt>- 
uerbe, the cart before the horse ; the (ireeks call It HuU- 
run protcron ; we name It the Prepotterou*. 
Pvttenham, Art of Eng. Poesle, p. 141. 
How backward ! How prepott'rout is the motion 
Of our ungaln devotion ! <,"""'", Emblems, I. 13. 
(iold and silver are heavy metals, and sink down In the 
balance; yet, by a trrepottterowi inversion, they lift the 
heart of man upwards. I!"-. T. Adam*, Works, I. 52. 
2. Contrary to nature, reason, or common 
sense; irrational; glaringly absurd ; nonsensi- 
cal. 
"Good Gloucester " and "good devil" were alike, 
And both preponterous. Shak., 3 Hen. VI., v. 6. 5. 
Great precisians of mean conditions and very illiterate, 
most part by a preposUrout zeal, fasting, meditation, mel- 
ancholy, are brought into those grues errors and incon- 
veniences. Burton, Anat. of Mil., p. 627. 
If a man cannot see a church, ft fa prepttsterons to take 
his opinion about its altar-piece or painted window. 
llnil',1, Man's Place In Nature, p. 119. 
3. Foolish; ridiculous; stupid; absurd. 
I'repontrroia ass, that never read so far 
To know the cause why music was ordain'd ! 
Shak.,1. of the S., ill. 1. 9. 
Man is the only prepogtrrou* creature alive who pursues 
the shadow of pleasure without temptation. 
Ooldnnith, Kit-hard Nash. 
= Syn. 2 and 3. .SY//.V, r'ouiinh, etc. (see nlwtin/X monstrous, 
crazy, mad, wild, ludicrous. See/(witA. 
preposterously (pre-pos'te-riiH-li), </f. It. In 
an inverted order'or position; with the hind 
part foremost; with the bottom upward. 
He gron'd, tumbl'd to the earth, and stay'd 
A mfghtfe while preposterously. Chapman, Iliad, v. 
2. Irrationally; absurdly; stupidly. 
The abbot [was] prepnxtennigly put to death, with two 
innocent vertuous monks with him. 
Letter from Moiila of (jladonlniry (Up. Iturnet's Records, 
[II. II. :-'.). 
Wonder and doubt come wrongly into play, 
Preposterously, at cross purposes. 
Browning, An Epistle. 
preposterousness (pre-pos'te-ruB-ues), . The 
state orcharacterof being preposterous; wrong 
order or method; unreasonableness: absurdity. 
Prepostrrounness she counted It to wear 
Her purse upon her back. 
J. Beaumont, Psyche, xvill. 
prepostor (pre-pos'tor), n. Same as prepositor. 
The master mounted Into the high desk by the door, and 
one of the pnepottors of the week stood by him on the 
steps. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Rugby, L 5. 
prepotence (pre-po'tens), n. [< OF. prepotenee, 
F. prdpotence = Sp. Pg. prepotencia = It. pre- 
otenza, < LL. preepotentia, superior power, < 
. prtej>oten(t-)s, very powerful: see prepo- 
tent.] Same as prepotency. Landor. 
prepotency (pre-po* ten-si), n. [As prepotence 
(see -cy ) .] The state or ciuality of bei ng prepo- 
tent; superior power, influence, or efficiency; 
predominance ; prevalence. 
If there were a determinate prepteney In the right, . . . 
we might expect the same in other animals, whose parts 
are also differenced by dextrality. 
Sir T. Broune, Vulg. Err., IT. ft. 
Scarcely any result from my experiments has surprised 
me so much as this of the prepotency of pollen from a dis- 
tinct individual over each plant's own pollen. 
Damn, Cross and Self Fertilisation, p. 397. 
prepotent (pre-po'tent), a. [< OF. prepotent 
= Sp. Pg. It. p'repoteiite, < L. prsepoten(t~)s, ppr. 
of pryposxe, be very powerful, < pree, before, 
4- posse, be powerful: seepotent.] 1. Preemi- 
nent in power, influence, force, or efficiency ; 
prevailing; predominant. 
Here ls no grace so prepotent but It may be disobeyed. 
Plaijere, Appendix to the Gospel, xlv. 
If the Influence of heanen be the most prepotent cause of 
this elfecte, then U setmetb to me that it shuld woorke 
Immediatly. 
R. Eden, it. of Birlnguccio (First books on America, ed. 
[Arber, p. 304). 
No dragon does there need for tliee 
With quintessential sting to work alarms, 
Prepotent guardian of thy fruitage flnc, 
Thou vegetable nomipine! 
.. i. ..,..,! rrj |.i. . 
