The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Present \Pre*sent"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presented; p. pr. &
vb. n. Presenting.] [F. pr['e]senter, L. praesentare, fr.
praesens, a. See Present, a.]
1. To bring or introduce into the presence of some one,
especially of a superior; to introduce formally; to offer
for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the king;
(with the reciprocal pronoun) to come into the presence of
a superior.
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Now there was a day when the sons of God came to
present themselves before the lord. --Job i. 6
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2. To exhibit or offer to view or notice; to lay before one's
perception or cognizance; to set forth; to present a fine
appearance.
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Lectorides's memory is ever . . . presenting him
with the thoughts of other persons. --I. Watts.
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3. To pass over, esp. in a ceremonious manner; to give in
charge or possession; to deliver; to make over.
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So ladies in romance assist their knight,
Present the spear, and arm him for the fight.
--Pope.
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4. To make a gift of; to bestow; to give, generally in a
formal or ceremonious manner; to grant; to confer.
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My last, least offering, I present thee now.
--Cowper.
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5. Hence: To endow; to bestow a gift upon; to favor, as with
a donation; also, to court by gifts.
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Octavia presented the poet for him admirable elegy
on her son Marcellus. --Dryden.
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6. To present; to personate. [Obs.] --Shak.
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7. In specific uses;
(a) To nominate to an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to
the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
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The patron of a church may present his clerk to
a parsonage or vicarage; that is, may offer him
to the bishop of the diocese to be instituted.
--Blackstone.
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(b) To nominate for support at a public school or other
institution . --Lamb.
(c) To lay before a public body, or an official, for
consideration, as before a legislature, a court of
judicature, a corporation, etc.; as, to present a
memorial, petition, remonstrance, or indictment.
(d) To lay before a court as an object of inquiry; to give
notice officially of, as a crime of offence; to find
or represent judicially; as, a grand jury present
certain offenses or nuisances, or whatever they think
to be public injuries.
(e) To bring an indictment against . [U.S]
(f) To aim, point, or direct, as a weapon; as, to present
a pistol or the point of a sword to the breast of
another.
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Pesent arms (Mil.), the command in response to which the
gun is carried perpendicularly in front of the center of
the body, and held there with the left hand grasping it at
the lower band, and the right hand grasping the small of
the stock, in token of respect, as in saluting a superior
officer; also, the position taken at such a command.
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