presidial

See also: présidial

English

Alternative forms

• præsidial (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle French presidial, from Latin praesidialis, variant of praesidalis, from praeses (“provincial governor”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɹɪˈsɪdɪ.əl/

Adjective

presidial (comparative more presidial, superlative most presidial)

1. Belonging to a province, or being like a province; provincial.
2. Pertaining to a president or one who presides; presidential.
   • 1891, Mary Noailles Murfree, In the "Stranger People's" Country, Nebraska, published 2005, page 22:

     the doorway was vacant save for a large brindled cur that stood upon the threshold, wagging his tail and watching the scene with a suave, indulgent, presidial gaze, as if he were the patron of the ball.

3. Having or relating to a garrison.
   • 1655, James Howell, “To Sir T. H. Knight”, in Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. Familiar Letters Domestic and Forren. […], 3rd edition, volume (please specify the page), London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], →OCLC:

     There are three presidial castles in this city.

Synonyms

• (having or relating to a garrison): presidiary

Middle French

Etymology

First known attestation 1435, borrowed from Latin praesidialis.

Adjective

presidial m (feminine singular presidiale, masculine plural presidiaulx, feminine plural presidiales)

1. of or relating to a court having the ability to make a judgment of up to 250 pounds without the possibility of appeal

References

• Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l’ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IX^e au XV^e siècle (1881) (presidial, supplement)