Preside

• POS: Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: pre=side

CIDE DICTIONARY

Preside, v. i. [L. praesidere; prae before + sedere to sit: cf. F. présider. See Sit.].

•  To be set, or to sit, in the place of authority; to occupy the place of president, chairman, moderator, director, etc.; to direct, control, and regulate, as chief officer; as, to preside at a public meeting; to preside over the senate.  [1913 Webster]
•  To exercise superintendence; to watch over.  [1913 Webster]

  "Some o'er the public magazines preside."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Preside, v.intr.
1 (often foll. by at, over) be in a position of authority, esp. as the chairperson or president of a meeting.
2 a exercise control or authority. b (foll. by at) colloq. play an instrument in company (presided at the piano).

Etymology

F pr{eacute}sider f. L praesidere (as PRAE-, sedere sit)

DEVIL DICTIONARY

Preside

v. To guide the action of a deliberative body to a desirable result. In Journalese, to perform upon a musical instrument; as, "He presided at the piccolo."

The Headliner, holding the copy in hand,
Read with a solemn face:
"The music was very uncommonly grand --
The best that was every provided,
For our townsman Brown presided
At the organ with skill and grace."
The Headliner discontinued to read,
And, spread the paper down
On the desk, he dashed in at the top of the screed:
"Great playing by President Brown."
Orpheus Bowen

THESAURUS

Preside

administer, administer justice, administrate, be master, captain, carry on, chair, chairman, command, conduct, control, direct, discipline, do the honors, entertain, entertain guests, give a party, govern, guest, handle, head, head up, host, judge, keep, lead, manage, occupy the chair, officer, officiate, operate, ordain, oversee, preside over, regulate, rule, run, sit in judgment, stand over, supervise, throw a party, wield authority

ROGET THESAURUS

Preside

Direction

VB direct, manage, govern, conduct, order, prescribe, cut out work for, bead, lead, lead the way, show the way, take the lead, lead on, regulate, guide, steer, pilot, tackle, take the helm, be at the helm, have the reins, handle the reins, hold the reins, take the reins, drive, tool, superintend, supervise, overlook, control, keep in order, look after, see to, legislate for, administer, ministrate, matronize, have the care of, have the charge of, be in charge of, have charge of, take the direction, boss, boss one around, pull the strings, pull the wires, rule, have the direction, hold office, hold the portfolio, preside, preside at the board, take the chair, occupy the chair, be in the chair, pull the stroke oar, tend towards, bend towards, point towards, conduct to, go to, point to, point at, bend, trend, verge, incline, dip, determine, steer for, steer towards, make for, make towards, aim at, level at, take aim, keep a course, hold a course, be bound for, bend one's steps towards, direct one's course, steer one's course, bend one's course, shape one's course, align one's march, allign one's march, to straight, go straight to the point, march on, march on a point, ascertain one's direction, s'orienter, see which way the wind blows, box the compass, take the air line.