presence

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The state or fact of being present; current existence or occurrence.
2. n. Immediate proximity in time or space.
3. n. The area immediately surrounding a great personage, especially a sovereign.
4. n. A person who is present.
5. n. A person's bearing, especially when it commands respectful attention: "He continues to possess the presence, mental as well as physical, of the young man” ( Brendan Gill).
6. n. The quality of self-assurance and effectiveness that permits a performer to achieve a rapport with the audience: stage presence.
7. n. A supernatural influence felt to be nearby.
8. n. The diplomatic, political, or military influence of a nation in a foreign country, especially as evidenced by the posting of its diplomats or its troops there: "The American diplomatic presence in London began in 1785 when John Adams became our first minister” ( Nancy Holmes).

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The state of being present; the state of being in a certain place, and not in some other place; being, continuance, or stay in a certain place: as, the presence of a planet in a particular part of its orbit; specifically, the state of being near the speaker or writer or in some place upon which his thought is directed.
2. n. Companionship; attendance; company; society.
3. n. Immediate neighborhood or vicinity; close proximity.
4. n. The state of being face to face with a great personage or with a superior.
5. n. An assembly, particularly of persons of rank; a noble company.
6. n. Personality; the sum of the qualities of an individual; personage.
7. n. Aspect; appearance; demeanor; mien; air.
8. n. An apparition; a vision; a specter.
9. n. A presence-chamber.

Wiktionary

1. n. The fact or condition of being present, or of being within sight or call, or at hand.
2. n. The part of space within one's immediate vicinity.
3. n. A quality of poise and effectiveness that enables a performer to achieve a close relationship with his audience.
4. n. Something (as a spirit) felt or believed to be present.
5. n. A company's business activity in a particular market.
6. n. The state of being closely focused on the here and now, not distracted by irrelevant thoughts
7. v. To make or become present.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The state of being present, or of being within sight or call, or at hand; -- opposed to absence.
2. n. The place in which one is present; the part of space within one's ken, call, influence, etc.; neighborhood without the intervention of anything that forbids intercourse.
3. n. Specifically, neighborhood to the person of one of superior of exalted rank; also, presence chamber.
4. n. The whole of the personal qualities of an individual; person; personality; especially, the person of a superior, as a sovereign.
5. n. An assembly, especially of person of rank or nobility; noble company.
6. n. Port, mien; air; personal appearence.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. the immediate proximity of someone or something
2. n. an invisible spiritual being felt to be nearby
3. n. dignified manner or conduct
4. n. the impression that something is present
5. n. the state of being present; current existence
6. n. the act of being present