prefect

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When the prefect was about to remove the figures, Caesar hastily forbade it, and ordered the bystanders to withdraw.

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Definitions (12)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (6)

  1. noun A high administrative official or chief officer, as:
  2. noun Any of several high military or civil officials in ancient Rome.
  3. noun The chief of police of Paris, France.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (4)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

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Examples (50)

  • Had he not even caught by the collar the sub-prefect, who stopped in the village in the course of an administrative round described by M. Renardet as an electioneering round; for he was against the government, according to his family tradition The Mayor asked What's the matter now, Mederic I found a little girl dead in your wood Renardet rose up, with his face the color of brick Do you say--a little girl Yes, m'sieur, a little girl, quite naked, on her back, with blood on her, dead--quite dead The Mayor gave vent to an oath My God, I'd make a bet 'tis little Louise Roquι! —  The works of Guy de Maupassant, Vol. 5 (of 8) Une Vie and Other Stories
  • The prefect, a government employé_, presides over the councils. —  France and the Republic A Record of Things Seen and Learned in the French Provinces During the 'Centennial' Year 1889
  • Whereupon Corder retreated behind his table and invited the interloper to begin To dodge round and round a study table after a nimble boy is not a very dignified operation for a prefect, particularly when the object of his chase is a prefect too; and Brinkman presently abandoned the quest and went off, breathing threatenings and slaughter, for reinforcements So did Corder. —  The Cock-House at Fellsgarth
  • The sub-prefect served as a local deputy of the prefect, and one of his principal duties was to assist in the p. 344) continuous and close supervision of the affairs of the communes within his jurisdiction. —  The Governments of Europe
  • Since 1881 the three departments of Algeria have been dealt with substantially as if included within continental France At the head of each of the departments is a prefect, appointed and removed nominally by the President of the Republic, but in reality by the Minister of the Interior. —  The Governments of Europe
 

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Old French, from Latin praefectus, from past participle of praeficere, to place at the head of : prae-, pre- + facere, to make; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Also præfect; = French préfet = Spanish prefecto = Portuguese prefecto, prefeito = Italian prefetto, from Latin præfectus, an overseer, president, director, chief, prefect, properly adjective, præfectus, set over, past participle of præficeere, set over, place in authority over. from præ, before, above, + facere, do, make: see fact.
 

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/ˈprifɛkt/
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