Present \Pre*sent"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presented; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Presenting.] [F. pr['e]senter, L. praesentare, fr.
   praesens, a. See Present, a.]
   1. To bring or introduce into the presence of some one,
      especially of a superior; to introduce formally; to offer
      for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the king;
      (with the reciprocal pronoun) to come into the presence of
      a superior.
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            Now there was a day when the sons of God came to
            present themselves before the lord.   --Job i. 6
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   2. To exhibit or offer to view or notice; to lay before one's
      perception or cognizance; to set forth; to present a fine
      appearance.
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            Lectorides's memory is ever . . . presenting him
            with the thoughts of other persons.   --I. Watts.
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   3. To pass over, esp. in a ceremonious manner; to give in
      charge or possession; to deliver; to make over.
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            So ladies in romance assist their knight,
            Present the spear, and arm him for the fight.
                                                  --Pope.
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   4. To make a gift of; to bestow; to give, generally in a
      formal or ceremonious manner; to grant; to confer.
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            My last, least offering, I present thee now.
                                                  --Cowper.
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   5. Hence: To endow; to bestow a gift upon; to favor, as with
      a donation; also, to court by gifts.
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            Octavia presented the poet for him admirable elegy
            on her son Marcellus.                 --Dryden.
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   6. To present; to personate. [Obs.] --Shak.
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   7. In specific uses;
      (a) To nominate to an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to
          the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
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                The patron of a church may present his clerk to
                a parsonage or vicarage; that is, may offer him
                to the bishop of the diocese to be instituted.
                                                  --Blackstone.
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      (b) To nominate for support at a public school or other
          institution . --Lamb.
      (c) To lay before a public body, or an official, for
          consideration, as before a legislature, a court of
          judicature, a corporation, etc.; as, to present a
          memorial, petition, remonstrance, or indictment.
      (d) To lay before a court as an object of inquiry; to give
          notice officially of, as a crime of offence; to find
          or represent judicially; as, a grand jury present
          certain offenses or nuisances, or whatever they think
          to be public injuries.
      (e) To bring an indictment against . [U.S]
      (f) To aim, point, or direct, as a weapon; as, to present
          a pistol or the point of a sword to the breast of
          another.
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   Pesent arms (Mil.), the command in response to which the
      gun is carried perpendicularly in front of the center of
      the body, and held there with the left hand grasping it at
      the lower band, and the right hand grasping the small of
      the stock, in token of respect, as in saluting a superior
      officer; also, the position taken at such a command.
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