Etymology dictionary

preconceive (v.) — prelapsarian (adj.)

preconceive (v.)

"form a conception, notion, or idea of in advance of actual knowledge," 1570s, from pre- "before" + conceive. Related: Preconceived; preconceiving; preconceit.

preconception (n.)

"conception or opinion formed in advance of experience or actual knowledge," 1620s, from pre- "before" + conception. Related: Preconceptions.

precondition (n.)

"an antecedent condition, a condition requisite in advance," 1825, from pre- "before" + condition (n.). As a verb from 1841. Related: Preconditioned; preconditioning.

preconscious (adj.)

"pertaining to or involving a state anterior to consciousness," 1860, from pre- "before" + conscious (adj.).

precool (v.)

also pre-cool, "cool prior to use or before some further treatment," 1904, from pre- + cool (v.). Related: Precooled; precooling.

early 15c., precursoure, "a forerunner; that which precedes an event and indicates its approach," from Old French precurseur and directly from Latin praecursor "forerunner," agent noun from past-participle stem of praecurrere, from prae "before" (see pre-) + currere "to run" (from PIE root *kers- "to run"). Originally of John the Baptist. Related: Precursive; precursory.

predacious (adj.)

also predaceous, "living by prey, disposed to prey or plunder, predatory," 1713, from stem of predation (Latin praedari) + -acious.

pre-date (v.)

also predate, 1859, "to antedate, to assign an earlier date to than the actual time," from pre- + date (n.1) "point in time." From 1857 as "to exist before, be of an earlier date than." Related: Pre-dated; pre-dating.

predation (n.)

late 15c., predacioun, "act of plundering or pillaging," from Latin praedationem (nominative praedatio) "a plundering, act of taking booty," from praedari "to rob, to plunder," from praeda "plunder, booty, prey" (see prey (n.)). Zoological sense recorded from 1907.

predator (n.)

"animal that preys upon another," 1862, from Latin praedator "plunderer," from praedari "to rob" (see predation). Latin Predatores (Swainson, 1840) was used in biology of the group of coleopterous insects that ate other insects.

predate (v.)

"to seek prey," 1974, a back-formation from predator, predation, etc. Related: Predated; predating. For the word that means "antedate; pre-exist," see pre-date.

predatory (adj.)

1580s, "involving plundering or pillaging," from Latin praedatorius "pertaining to plunder," from praedator "plunderer," from praedor "to plunder," from praeda "prey" (see prey (n.)). In zoology, "habitually preying upon other animals," from 1660s.

pre-dawn (adj.)

"of or occurring before the dawn of day," 1940, from pre- + dawn (n.).

predecease (v.)

"to die before, precede in dying," 1590s, from pre- "before" + decease (v.). Related: Predeceased; predeceasing.

predecessor (n.)

late 14c., predecessour, "one who has held an office or position before the present holder," from Old French predecesseor "forebear" and directly from Late Latin praedecessorem (nominative praedecessor) "one who has gone before," from Latin prae "before" (see pre-) + decessor "retiring official," from decess-, past participle stem of decedere "go away," also "die" (see decease (n.)). Meaning "ancestor, forefather" is recorded from c. 1400.

predefine (v.)

"define or limit beforehand," 1540s, from pre- "before" + define (v.), or else from French predefinir or Medieval Latin *praedefinire. Related: Predefined; predefining; predefinition.

predestination (n.)

mid-14c., predestinacioun, "the action of God in foreordaining certain of mankind through grace to salvation or eternal life," from Old French predestinacion and directly from Church Latin praedestinationem (nominative praedestinatio) "a determining beforehand," noun of action from past-participle stem of praedestinare "set before as a goal; appoint or determine beforehand," from Latin prae "before" (see pre-) + destinare "appoint, determine" (see destine (v.)).

The Latin word was first used in the theological sense by Augustine; given prominence by Calvin. Related: Predestinarian "one who believes in the doctrine of predestination" (1660s).

predestinate (v.)

in theology, of God, "to foreordain by a divine decree or purpose" (someone, to salvation or eternal life), mid-15c. (as a past-participle adjective from late 14c.), from past-participle stem of Church Latin praedestinare "determine beforehand" (see predestination). The Latin word translates Greek proorizein. Related: Predestinated; predestinating.

predestine (v.)

late 14c., predestinen, "to foreordain, decree beforehand," from Old French prédestiner (12c.) "predestine, ordain" (of God) and directly from Latin praedestinare "determine beforehand" (see predestination). Related: Predestined; predestining.

predetermination (n.)

"state of being previously determined; act of predetermining," 1630s; see predetermine + noun ending -ation.

predetermine (v.)

"to determine beforehand, destine by previous decree," 1620s, originally theological, from pre- "before" + determine or else from Late Latin praedeterminare (Augustine). Related: Predetermined; predetermining; predeterminate.

predicate (n.)

mid-15c., a term in logic, "that which is said of a subject," from Old French predicat and directly from Medieval Latin predicatum, from Latin praedicatum "that which is said of the subject," noun use of neuter past participle of praedicare "assert, proclaim, declare publicly," from prae- "forth, before" (see pre-) + dicare "proclaim" (from PIE root *deik- "to show," also "pronounce solemnly," and see diction).

The grammatical sense of "the word or words which express what is said of a subject in a proposition" is from 1630s. Related: Predicative; predicator; predicatory.

predicative (adj.)

"affirming, asserting, expressing affirmation," 1846; see predicate (n.) + -ive.

predicate (v.)

"declare, assert, affirm," especially as an attribute or quality of something, 1550s, a back formation from predication, or else from Latin praedicatus, past participle of praedicare "proclaim, announce" (see predicate (n.)). Related: Predicated; predicating. Phrase predicated on "founded on, based on," is American English, recorded from 1766.

predicate (adj.)

"belonging to a predicate; constituting a part of what is asserted of anything," 1887, from Latin praedicatus, past participle of praedicare "proclaim, announce" (see predicate (n.)).

predication (n.)

c. 1300, predicacioun, "a preaching, a sermon," from Old French predicacion (12c.) and directly from Medieval Latin predicationem, from Latin praedicationem (nominative praedicatio) "a foretelling, prediction," noun of action from past-participle stem of praedicare "assert or proclaim, declare publicly" (see predicate (n.)). In logic, "act of affirming one thing of another," 1630s.

predicament (n.)

early 15c., in philosophy, "category, class; one of Aristotle's 10 categories," from Medieval Latin predicamentum, from Late Latin praedicamentum "quality, category, something predicted, that which is asserted," from Latin praedicatus, past participle of praedicare "assert, proclaim, declare publicly," from prae- "forth, before" (see pre-) + dicare "proclaim" (from PIE root *deik- "to show," also "pronounce solemnly," and see diction). Praedicamentum is a loan-translation of Greek kategoria, Aristotle's word.

The meaning "unpleasant, dangerous, or trying situation" is a particular negative use of the general sense of "a state of being, condition, situation" (1580s).

predictable (adj.)

"quality or character of being predicted or foretold," 1820, from predict + -able. Related: Predictably, which in the sense "as could have been predicted" is attested from 1914.

predictability (n.)

"quality or character of being predictable," 1855, from predictable + -ity.

predict (v.)

1620s (implied in predicted), "foretell, prophesy, declare before the event happens," a back formation from prediction or else from Latin praedicatus, past participle of praedicere "foretell, advise, give notice," from prae "before" (see pre-) + dicere "to say" (from PIE root *deik- "to show," also "pronounce solemnly"). Related: Predicted; predicting.

prediction (n.)

"act of predicting; a prophecy, a declaration concerning future events," 1560s, from French prédiction and directly from Medieval Latin predictionem (nominative predictio), from Latin praedictio "a foretelling," noun of action from past-participle stem of praedicere "assert, proclaim, declare publicly" (see predict).

predictive (adj.)

"prophetic, indicative of something future," 1650s, from Late Latin praedictivus "foretelling," from praedict-, stem of praedicere "foretell, advise, give notice" (see predict).

predictor (n.)

"one who or that which predicts or foretells," 1650s, from Medieval Latin praedictor, agent noun from praedicere "foretell, advise, give notice" (see predict). Statistical sense is from 1950.

predigest (v.)

also pre-digest, "digest more or less completely by artificial means before introducing into the body," 1660s, from pre- "before" + digest (v.). Figurative use by 1905. Related: Predigested; predigesting; predigestion.

predilection (n.)

"a prepossession of the mind in favor of something," 1742, from French prédilection (16c.), noun of action from Medieval Latin praedilectus, past participle of prediligere "prefer before others," from Latin prae "before" (see pre-) + diligere "choose, love" (see diligent). The verb predilect (1774) is rare or obsolete.

predispose (v.)

"incline beforehand, put into a certain frame of mind, render susceptible either mentally or physically," 1640s, perhaps a back-formation from predisposition or else from or based on French predisposer (15c.). Related: Predisposed; predisposing.

predisposition (n.)

"state of having a previous tendency or inclination in a particular direction, mental or physical susceptibility," 1620s, from pre- + disposition. Related: Predispositional.

prednisone (n.)

synthetic steroid, 1955, probably with ending from cortisone + elements of pregnadiene, from pregnane, name of the compound from which pregnancy hormones were derived, from the Latin stem of pregnancy, + diene "unsaturated hydrocarbon containing two double bonds between carbon atoms," from di- + -ene.

predominant (adj.)

1570s, "ruling; controlling; exerting power, authority, or influence," from French prédominant (14c.), from Medieval Latin *praedominantem (nominative praedominans), present participle of *praedominare, from Latin prae "before" (see pre-) + dominari "to rule, dominate, to govern," from dominus "lord, master," from domus "house" (from PIE root *dem- "house, household"). Weakened sense of "more frequent, prevalent" is from c. 1600. Related: Predominantly.

predominate (v.)

1590s, "to have or exert controlling power," from Medieval Latin praedominatus, past participle of *praedominare from Latin prae "before" (see pre-) + dominari "to rule, dominate, to govern," from dominus "lord, master," from domus "house" (from PIE root *dem- "house, household"). Related: Predominated; predominating; predominatingly; predomination (1580s).

predominance (n.)

"quality of being predominant; superiority in power, authority, or influence," c. 1600; see predominant + -ance. Related: Predominancy (1590s).

predoom (v.)

"condemn beforehand," 1610s, from pre- "before" + doom (v.). Related: Predoomed; predooming.

pre-eclampsia (n.)

also preeclampsia, "pregnancy condition characterized by high blood pressure and other symptoms associated with eclampsia," 1903, from pre- + eclampsia. Related: Pre-eclamptic (1896).

pre-elect (v.)

also preelect, "to choose or elect beforehand," 1560s, from pre- "before" + elect (v.). Related: Pre-elected; pre-electing.

pre-election (n.)

1580s, "choice of one person or thing in preference to others," from pre- + election or else from Medieval Latin praeelectionem.

pre-election (adj.)

also preelection, "occurring or given before a political election," 1893, from pre- "before" + election.

pre-electric (adj.)

"occurring or pertaining to the time before the use of electricity," 1879, from pre- + electric.

preemie (n.)

"baby born prematurely," 1927, premy, an American English shortening of premature with -y (2). Spelling with -ie attested from 1949.

pre-eminence (n.)

also pre-eminence, c. 1200, "surpassing eminence; superiority, distinction; precedence, a place of rank or distinction," from Late Latin praeeminentia "distinction, superiority," from Latin praeeminentem (nominative praeeminens), present participle of praeeminere "transcend, excel," literally "project forward, rise above," from prae "before" (see pre-) + eminere "stand out, project" (see eminent).

pre-eminent (adj.)

also preeminent, early 15c., "superior, distinguished beyond others, eminent above others," from Old French preeminent and directly from Medieval Latin preeminentem, from Latin praeeminentem (nominative praeeminens), present participle of praeeminare "to transcend, excel," literally "to project forward, rise above" (see pre-eminence). Related: Pre-eminently; preeminently.

pre-empt (v.)

also preempt, 1830, "secure (land, etc.) by pre-emption, occupy (public land) so as to establish a pre-emptive title to it," a back-formation from pre-emption or pre-emptive, originally American English. In the broadcasting sense of "set aside (a program) and replace it with another" it is attested from 1965, American English, a euphemism for "cancel." Related: pre-empted; preempted.

pre-emption (n.)

also preemption, c. 1600, "a purchase by one before an opportunity is offered to others," originally as a right; literally "a purchasing before others," from pre- "before" + emption "purchase."

pre-emptive (adj.)

also preemptive, 1806, "pertaining to or of the nature of pre-emption;" from pre-emption + -ive. Specifically of an attack on an enemy who is plotting or has set in motion his own imminent attack, 1958, a term from the Cold War. Related: Pre-emptively; preemptively.

pre-emptory (adj.)

also preemptory, 1822, "relating to pre-emption," from pre-emption + -ory.

preen (v.)

late 14c., of a person, "to trim, to dress up," probably a variation of Middle English proynen, proinen, of a bird, "trim the feather with the beak;" of a person, "to dress or groom oneself carefully" (see prune (v.)). Middle English prene "to pin, pierce, fasten with a pin" probably influenced the form of this word. It is from Old English preon, a general Germanic word (compare Dutch priemen, Low German prünen, East Frisian prinen).

In English, the use in reference to a bird, "to trim the feathers with the beak," is from late 15c. Because of the late medieval popularity of falconry, bird activities were more closely observed and words for them were more precise in English than today.

Preening as a present-participle adjective meaning "proud, self-confident" is by 1903.

pre-engage (v.)

also preengage, "bind in advance by promise or agreement," 1640s, from pre- "before" + engage (v.). Related: Pre-engaged; pre-engaging; pre-engagement.

pre-exilic (adj.)

"existing or done before exile," 1884, chiefly in reference to Biblical writings supposed to date before the Jewish exile (586-537 B.C.E.), from pre- "before" + exile (n.) + -ic.

pre-existing (adj.)

also preexisting, 1590s, present-participle adjective from pre-exist. The medical insurance pre-existing condition is attested from 1942.

pre-exist (v.)

also preexist, "exist before something else, have a prior existence," 1590s, from pre- "before" + exist. Related: Pre-existed; pre-existing.

pre-existence (n.)

"existence previous to something else; existence in a previous state, as of the soul before its union with the body," 1650s, from pre- + existence.

prefab (adj.)

"manufactured in a factory prior to assembly on site," 1937, short for prefabricated "made by assembling large components made elsewhere," originally of housing (see prefabricate). As a noun, "prefabricated housing," from 1942.

prefabricate (v.)

"manufacture in a factory prior to assembly on site," 1919 (implied in prefabricated), from pre- + fabricate (v.). Related: Prefabricating.

preface (n.)

late 14c., "an introduction to the canon of the Mass," also "statement or statements introducing a discourse, book, or other composition; series of preliminary remarks, written or spoken," from Old French preface "opening part of sung devotions" (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin prefatia, from Latin praefationem (nominative praefatio) "fore-speaking, introduction," in Medieval Latin "prologue," noun of action from past participle stem of praefari "to say beforehand," from prae "before" (see pre-) + fari "speak," from PIE root *bha- (2) "to speak, tell, say."

preface (v.)

"give a preface to, introduce by preliminary written or spoken remarks," 1610s, from preface (n.). Related: Prefaced; prefacing.

prefatory (adj.)

"belonging to or serving as a preface, introductory," 1670s, from Latin praefat-, past-participle stem of praefari "to say beforehand" (see preface (n.)) + -ory. Related: Prefatorial; prefatorily.

prefect (n.)

mid-14c., "civil or military official, governor, magistrate," from Old French prefect (12c., Modern French préfet) and directly from Latin praefectus "public overseer, superintendent, director," a title of certain magistrates, noun use of past participle of praeficere "to put in front, to set over, put in authority," from prae "in front, before" (see pre-) + combining form of facere "to make, to do" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").

The spelling has been restored from Middle English prefet. The meaning "administrative head of the Paris police" is from 1800; the sense of "senior pupil designated to keep order in an English school" is by 1864. Related: Prefectorial; prefectoral.

prefecture (n.)

"administrative district, office, or jurisdiction of a prefect," mid-15c., from Old French préfecture (13c.) and directly from Latin praefectura, or assembled locally from prefect + -ure. Also used as the English equivalent to Chinese fu, "an administrative division consisting of several districts" (1885).

prefectural (adj.)

"pertaining to or belonging to a prefecture," 1807, from prefecture + -al (1).

prefer (v.)

late 14c., preferren, "to put forward or advance in rank or fortune, to promote (to an office, dignity, or position); further (one's interest)," from Old French preferer (14c.) and directly from Latin praeferre "place or set before, carry in front," from prae "before" (see pre-) + ferre "to carry, to bear," from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry," also "to bear children."

The meaning "to esteem or value (something) more than others, set before others in liking or esteem" also is recorded from late 14c. and is now the usual sense. The other sense in English is preserved in preferment.

preferment (n.)

mid-15c., preferrement, "furtherance of an undertaking; advancement or promotion in status; a prior claim or right," from prefer + -ment. From 1530s as "a superior place or office," especially in the Church.

preference (n.)

mid-15c., preferraunce, "advancement in position or status;" 1650s as "act of prefering," from Old French preference (14c., Modern French préférence), from Medieval Latin preferentia, from past-participle stem of Latin praeferrere "place or set before, carry in front" (see prefer). Sense of "that which one prefers, the object of choice" is from 1852.

preferable (adj.)

"worthy to be preferred, more desirable," 1640s (implied in preferableness), from or on model of French préférable, from préfér (see prefer). OED [2nd. ed. print, 1989] notes that the spelling preferrable is better English but has not prevailed. Related: Preferably; preferability.

preferential (adj.)

"characterized by or having preference," 1805, from Medieval Latin preferentia (from Latin praeferre; see prefer) + -al (1). Related: Preferentially.

prefiguration (n.)

"a figuring beforehand, antecedent representation by similitude," late 14c., prefiguracioun, from Late Latin praefigurationem (nominative praefiguratio) "a figuring beforehand," noun of action from past-participle stem of praefigurare "to prefigure" (see prefigure).

prefigure (v.)

"represent beforehand, foreshadow, serve as a type of," early 15c., prefiguren, from Old French prefigurer and directly from Late Latin praefigurare "to prefigure," from Latin prae "before" (see pre-) + figurare "to form, shape," from figura "a shape, form, figure" (from PIE root *dheigh- "to form, build"). Related: Prefigured; prefiguring.

prefix (n.)

in grammar, "word or syllable or two syllables (rarely more) affixed to the beginning of a word to qualify its meaning or direct its application," 1640s, from Latin praefixum, noun use of neuter past participle of praefigere "fix in front, fasten on before," from prae "before" (see pre-) + root of figere "to fasten, fix" (from PIE root *dheigw- "to stick, fix"). Related: Prefixal.

prefix (v.)

early 15c., prefixen, "appoint beforehand," from Old French prefixer, from pre- "before" (see pre-) + *fixer (see fix (v.)). Also compare Latin praefixus, past participle of praefigere. Meaning "to place at the beginning" is from 1530s; of words or parts of words from c. 1600. Related: Prefixed; prefixing.

preflight (adj.)

also pre-flight, "of or pertaining to the preparations for a flight," 1918 with reference to aviation, from pre- + flight (n.).

preformed (adj.)

"formed in advance of use or further preparation," c. 1600, from Latin praeformare or else from pre- + formed (see form (v.)). Of plastic and synthetic products, from 1918. A verb preform "form beforehand" seems to be late and rare in English. Related: Preformation (1732).

preggers (adj.)

"pregnant," 1942, British slang, from pregnant (adj.1) + ending as in bonkers, crackers, starkers. This seems to be an expanded version of -er (3), the suffix used to make jocular or familiar formations from common or proper names (as in rugger for rugby, and soccer).

preggo (adj.)

"pregnant," Australian slang, 1951, from pregnant (adj.1). Compare preggers.

preglacial (adj.)

also pre-glacial, "prior to the Ice Ages," 1853, from pre- + glacial.

pregnable (adj.)

of a fortress, etc., "capable of being taken or won by force," 1530s, an alteration of Middle English preignable, earlier prenable (early 15c.), pernable (late 14c.), from Old French prenable, pregnauble "assailable, vulnerable," from stem of prendre "to take, grasp, seize," from Latin prehendere "to take hold of, to seize" (from prae- "before," see pre-, + -hendere, from PIE root *ghend- "to seize, take"). The form was confused in French and English by the influence of unrelated words from French preignaunt and English pregnant.

pregnancy (n.)

"state of a female who has conceived or is with child," 1520s (originally figurative), from pregnant (adj.1) + abstract noun suffix -cy. Literal use attested from 1590s. An earlier word in this sense was pregnacioun (early 15c.), from Old French pregnacion and Latin praegnationem.

pregnant (adj.2)

["convincing, weighty, pithy, full of meaning"] late 14c., "cogent, convincing, compelling" (of evidence, an argument, etc.); c. 1400 as "full of meaning;" from Old French preignant "pregnant, pithy, ready capable," which is probably from Latin praegnans "with child, pregnant, full" and thus the same word as pregnant (adj.1).

All uses seem to be derivable from the sense of "with child." But in some sources this English pregnant has been referred to French prenant, present participle of prendre "to take," or to the French present participle of preindre "press, squeeze, stamp, crush," from earlier priembre, from Latin premere "to press, hold fast, cover, crowd, compress." The two English adjectives are so confused as to be practically one word, if they were not always so.

pregnant (adj.1)

"with child, impregnated, that has conceived in the womb," early 15c., from Latin praegnantem (nominative praegnans, originally praegnas) "with child," literally "before birth," probably from prae- "before" (see pre-) + root of gnasci "be born" (from PIE root *gene- "give birth, beget").

The word tended to be avoided in polite conversation until c. 1950; modern euphemisms include anticipating, enceinte, expecting, in a family way, in a delicate (or interesting) condition. Old English terms included mid-bearne, literally "with child;" bearn-eaca, literally "child-adding" or "child-increasing;" and geacnod "increased." Among c. 1800 slang terms for "pregnant" was poisoned (in reference to the swelling).

Pre-Greek (n.)

by 1996, a modern term for what linguists had called "Pelasgian," the substrate language spoken in Greece before the Greeks arrived and from which they apparently borrowed many words. "Pelasgian" was considered a dialect of Indo-European, but now "it is generally agreed that the substrate was non-Indo-European" [Beekes], at least by Beekes. Earlier as an adjective in reference to religion, culture, etc. of the region before the arrival of the historical Greeks.

preheat (v.)

also pre-heat, "to heat in advance of use or further preparation," 1878, from pre- "before" + heat (v.). Related: Preheated; preheating.

prehension (n.)

1530s, "seizure, arrest," from Latin prehensionem (nominative prehensio) "a seizing," noun of action from past-participle stem of prehendere "to catch hold of, seize" (from prae- "before," see pre-, + -hendere, from PIE root *ghend- "to seize, take"). Prison is a doublet. Use in philosophy is from 1925.

prehensile (adj.)

"seizing or grasping, adapted for taking and holding," 1771, from French préhensile "adapted for grasping" (Buffon), from Latin prehensus, past participle of prehendere "to grasp, seize, get hold of," from prae- "before" (see pre-) + -hendere, from PIE root *ghend- "to seize, take."

Latin -hendere perhaps is related to hedera "ivy," via the notion of "clinging." De Vaan writes, "Of course, ivy is a climbing (or ground-creeping) plant, and one may surmise that its name means 'the grabbing one', but this is just a guess, especially since the morphology is uncommon: no s-stem of this root is attested elsewhere in IE."

prehistoric (adj.)

also pre-historic, "of or pertaining to times before recorded history, existing in or relating to time antecedent to the beginning of recorded history," 1851, perhaps modeled on French préhistorique; see pre- + historic. Related: Prehistorical.

prehistory (n.)

also pre-history, "the human past prior to recorded history," 1866, perhaps a back-formation from prehistoric. Related: Prehistorian.

prey (v.)

c. 1300, "to plunder, pillage, ravage," from prey (n.) and in part from Old French preer, earlier preder (c.1040), from Late Latin praedare, collateral form of Latin praedari "to take booty, plunder, pillage; catch animals as game," from praeda "booty, plunder; game hunted." Its sense of "to kill and devour" (an animal) is attested in English from mid-14c. Related: Preyed; preyer; preying.

prey (n.)

mid-13c., preie, "animal hunted for food, that which is seized by any carnivorous animal to be devoured" (also, figuratively, of souls captured by Satan, etc.), also "goods taken in war," from Old French preie "booty, animal taken in the chase" (mid-12c., Modern French proie), from Latin praeda "booty, plunder; game hunted."

This is from earlier praeheda, literally "something seized before," from PIE *prai-heda-; for the first element see prae-; the second element is related to the second element in prehendere "to grasp, seize" (from PIE root *ghend- "to seize, to take").

The meaning "act of preying or seizing upon anything" is from early 14c.; bird of prey is from late 14c. (fowl of prey is mid-14c.).

prejudge (v.)

1560s, "to prejudice;" 1570s, "to judge beforehand," from French préjuger (16c.), equivalent to Latin praejudicare "to judge or decide beforehand;" see pre- + judge (v.). Related: Prejudged; prejudging; prejudgment.

prejudice (v.)

mid-15c., prejudicen, "to injure or be detrimental to," from prejudice (n.) and from Old French prejudiciier. The meaning "to affect or fill with prejudice, create a prejudice (against)" is from c. 1600. Related: Prejudiced; prejudicing.

prejudice (n.)

c. 1300, "despite, contempt," from Old French prejudice "a prejudice, prejudgment; damage" (13c.) and directly from Medieval Latin prejudicium "injustice," from Latin praeiudicium "prior judgment, judicial examination before trial; damage, harm," from prae- "before" (see pre-) + iudicium "judgment," from iudex (genitive iudicis) "a judge" (see judge (n.)).

Meaning "injury, physical harm" is mid-14c., as is the legal sense of "detriment or damage caused by the violation of a legal right." Meaning "preconceived opinion" (especially but not necessarily unfavorable) is from late 14c. in English; now usually "decision formed without due examination of the facts or arguments necessary to a just and impartial decision." To terminate with extreme prejudice "kill" is by 1972, said to be CIA jargon.

prejudicial (adj.)

early 15c., "causing prejudice, injurious to the rights, interests, etc. of another;" 1530s, "full of prejudice," from prejudice (n.) + -al (1), or else from Old French prejudicial and directly from Medieval Latin prejudicialis "injurious," from Latin praeiudicium.

*prek-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to ask, entreat."

It forms all or part of: deprecate; deprecation; expostulate; imprecate; imprecation; postulate; pray; prayer; precarious; precatory; prithee.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit prasna-, Avestan frashna- "question;" Sanskrit prcchati, Avestan peresaiti "interrogates;" Latin precari "ask earnestly, beg, entreat;" Old Church Slavonic prositi, Lithuanian prašyti "to ask, beg;" Old High German frahen, German fragen, Old English fricgan "to ask" a question.

prelacy (n.)

early 14c., "office of a prelate;" late 14c., "system of church government by prelates," from Old French prelacie and directly from Medieval Latin praelatia (see prelate).

prelapsarian (adj.)

"pertaining to the condition before the Fall," 1834, from pre- "before" + Latin lapsus "a fall" (see lapse (n.)) + ending from unitarian, etc.