Prester
(Pres"ter) n. [NL., fr. Gr. from to kindle or burn, and to blow up, swell out by blowing.]
1. A meteor or exhalation formerly supposed to be thrown from the clouds with such violence that by
collision it is set on fire. [Obs.]
2. pl. One of the veins of the neck when swollen with anger or other excitement. [Obs.]
Prester
(Pres"ter), n. [OF. prestre. See Priest.] A priest or presbyter; as, Prester John. [Obs.]
Presternum
(Pre*ster"num) n. [NL.] (Anat.) The anterior segment of the sternum; the manubrium. —
Pre*ster"nal a.
Prestidigital
(Pres`ti*dig"i*tal) a. Nimble- fingered; having fingers fit for prestidigitation, or juggling. [R.]
"His prestidigital hand." Charles Reade.
Prestidigitation
(Pres`ti*dig`i*ta"tion) n. Legerdemain; sleight of hand; juggling.
Prestidigitator
(Pres`ti*dig"i*ta`tor) n. [L. praesto ready + digitus finger: cf. F. prestidigitateur.] One
skilled in legerdemain or sleight of hand; a juggler.
Prestige
(Pres"tige) n. [F., fr. L. praestigum delusion, illusion, praestigae deceptions, jugglers' tricks,
prob. fr. prae before + the root of stinguere to extinguish, originally, to prick. See Stick, v.]
1. Delusion; illusion; trick. [Obs.]
The sophisms of infidelity, and the prestiges of imposture.
Bp. Warburton. 2. Weight or influence derived from past success; expectation of future achievements founded on those
already accomplished; force or charm derived from acknowledged character or reputation. "The prestige
of his name must go for something." Sir G. C. Lewis.
Prestigiation
(Pres*tig`i*a"tion) n. [L. praestigiare to deceive by juggling tricks, fr. praestigae. See
Prestige.] Legerdemain; prestidigitation. [Obs.]
Prestigiator
(Pres*tig"i*a`tor) n. [L. praestigiator.] A juggler; prestidigitator. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Prestigiatory
(Pres*tig"i*a*to*ry) a. Consisting of impostures; juggling. [Obs.] Barrow.
Prestigious
(Pres*tig"i*ous) a. [L. praestigiosus.] Practicing tricks; juggling. [Obs.] Cotton Mather.
Prestimony
(Pres"ti*mo*ny) n. [LL. praestimonium, fr. L. praestare to furnish, supply: cf. F. prestimonie.
See Prest, n.] (Canon Law) A fund for the support of a priest, without the title of a benefice. The
patron in the collator.
Prestissimo
(||Pres*tis"si*mo) adv. [It., superl. of presto.] (Mus.) Very quickly; with great rapidity.
Presto
(Pres"to) adv. [It. or Sp. presto quick, quickly. See Prest, a.]
