pre|fect

pre|fect
pre|fect «PREE fehkt», noun.
1. the title of various military and civil officers in ancient Rome, such as the chief official of a city, the civil governor of a province, or the commander of the Praetorian Guard.
2. the chief administrative official of a department of France: »

... addressed a meeting in Paris of the “super prefects” of different regions of France (London Times).

3. a chief officer, chief magistrate, or the like.
4. a student monitor in certain schools, especially English schools; senior student who has some authority over other students; prepositor: »

Her face…regarded him as she must have learned, ten years ago, when she was a school prefect, to regard one of the girls (Harper's).

5. a dean in Jesuit schools or colleges. Also, praefect.
╂[< Old French prefect, learned borrowing from Latin praefectus public overseer, (originally) one put in charge; (literally) past participle of praeficere < prae- in front, before + facere to make]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • pre·fect — /ˈpriːˌfɛkt/ noun, pl fects [count] 1 : a chief officer or government official who is responsible for a particular area in some countries (such as Japan and France) 2 chiefly Brit : an older student who is given the job of helping to watch and… …   Useful english dictionary

  • sub|pre|fect — «suhb PREE fehkt», noun. an assistant or deputy prefect …   Useful english dictionary

  • pre — pre·abdomen; pre·acanthella; pre·adamitism; pre·adapt; pre·adaptation; pre·adaptive; pre·admission; pre·adolescence; pre·adult; pre·agonal; pre·am·bu·lar; pre·am·bu·late; pre·amp; pre·amplifier; pre·animism; pre·apprehension; pre·arrange;… …   English syllables

  • fect — af·fect·a·bil·i·ty; af·fect·a·ble; af·fect·er; de·fect·less; ef·fect·ful; ef·fect·ible; ef·fect·less; in·fect·ibil·i·ty; in·fect·ible; per·fect·abil·i·ty; per·fect·able; per·fect·ibil·ian; per·fect·ibi·lism; per·fect·ibi·list;… …   English syllables

  • prefect — pre·fect …   English syllables

  • prefect — pre•fect [[t]ˈpri fɛkt[/t]] n. 1) gov anh a person appointed to any of various positions of authority or superintendence, as a chief magistrate in ancient Rome or the chief administrative official of a department of France or Italy 2) rel a) the… …   From formal English to slang

  • prefect — pre|fect [ˈpri:fekt] n [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: Latin praefectus, from praeficere to put in front ] 1.) an older student in some British schools, who has special duties and helps to control younger students 2.) a public official in …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • prefect — pre|fect [ pri,fekt ] noun count 1. ) a public official in some countries who has authority over a particular district 2. ) in some schools in the U.K., an older student who controls the activities of younger students and helps them to obey the… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Apostolic prefect — Prefect Pre fect, n. [L. praefectus, fr. praefectus, p. p. of praeficere to set over; prae before + facere to make: cf. F. pr[ e]fet.] 1. A Roman officer who controlled or superintended a particular command, charge, department, etc.; as, the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Prefect — Pre fect, n. [L. praefectus, fr. praefectus, p. p. of praeficere to set over; prae before + facere to make: cf. F. pr[ e]fet.] 1. A Roman officer who controlled or superintended a particular command, charge, department, etc.; as, the prefect of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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