Prebendal
(Pre*ben"dal) a. Of or pertaining to a prebend; holding a prebend; as, a prebendal priest or
stall. Chesterfield.
Prebendary
(Preb"en*da*ry) n. [LL. praebendarius: cf. F. prébendaire. See Prebend.]
1. A clergyman attached to a collegiate or cathedral church who enjoys a prebend in consideration of
his officiating at stated times in the church. See Note under Benefice, n., 3. Hook.
2. A prebendaryship. [Obs.] Bailey.
Prebendaryship
(Preb"en*da*ry*ship), n. The office of a prebendary.
Prebendate
(Preb"en*date) v. t. [LL. praebendatus, p. p. of praebendari.] To invest with the office of
prebendary; to present to a prebend. [Obs.] Grafton.
Prebendship
(Preb"end*ship) n. A prebendaryship. [Obs.] Foxe.
Prebronchial
(Pre*bron"chi*al) a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the bronchus; — applied especially to an
air sac on either side of the esophagus of birds.
Precalculate
(Pre*cal"cu*late) v. t. To calculate or determine beforehand; to prearrange. Masson.
Precant
(Pre"cant) n. [L. precans, -antis, p. pr. of precari to pray.] One who prays. [R.] Coleridge.
Precarious
(Pre*ca"ri*ous) a. [L. precarius obtained by begging or prayer, depending on request or on
the will of another, fr. precari to pray, beg. See Pray.]
1. Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the
pleasure of another; as, precarious privileges. Addison.
2. Held by a doubtful tenure; depending on unknown causes or events; exposed to constant risk; not to
be depended on for certainty or stability; uncertain; as, a precarious state of health; precarious fortunes.
"Intervals of partial and precarious liberty." Macaulay.
Syn. — Uncertain; unsettled; unsteady; doubtful; dubious; equivocal. — Precarious, Uncertain. Precarious
in stronger than uncertain. Derived originally from the Latin precari, it first signified "granted to entreaty," and,
hence, "wholly dependent on the will of another." Thus it came to express the highest species of uncertainty,
and is applied to such things as depend wholly on future casualties.
— Pre*ca"ri*ous*ly, adv. — Pre*ca"ri*ous*ness, n.
Precation
(Pre*ca"tion) n. [L. precatio.] The act of praying; supplication; entreaty. Cotton.
Precative
(Prec"a*tive Prec"a*to*ry) a. [L. precativus, precatorius, fr. precari to pray. See Precarious.]
Suppliant; beseeching. Bp. Hopkins.
Precatory words (Law), words of recommendation, request, entreaty, wish, or expectation, employed
in wills, as distinguished from express directions; — in some cases creating a trust. Jarman.
Precaution
(Pre*cau"tion) n. [F. précation, L. praecautio, fr. praecavere, praecautum, to guard against
beforehand; prae before + cavere be on one's guard. See Pre-, and Caution.]
