preen

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /prin/ UK /priːn/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to tidy and clean feathers with the beak; to groom oneself with vanity

He preened before the mirror, admiring his new suit.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to tidy and clean feathers... groomprimpplumeprinkspruce prettify

Word family

Derived forms preener

Related forms prune

Etymology

From Middle English preinen, prenen ('to trim feathers'), probably an alteration of proinen/proynen ('to preen'), from Old French poroindre ('to anoint before') or related to prune ('to trim').

preinen Middle English

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Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# preen

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** prin
**IPA (UK):** priːn

## Meanings
1. to tidy and clean feathers with the beak; to groom oneself with vanity

## Examples
- He preened before the mirror, admiring his new suit.

## Synonyms
- groom
- primp
- plume
- prink
- spruce
- prettify

## Derived Forms
- preener

## Related Forms
- prune

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: preinen

## Etymology
From Middle English preinen, prenen ('to trim feathers'), probably an alteration of proinen/proynen ('to preen'), from Old French poroindre ('to anoint before') or related to prune ('to trim').

## AI Etymology
Preen is from Middle English preinen, prenen ('to trim feathers'), probably an alteration of proinen/proynen ('to preen'), from Old French poroindre ('to anoint before') or related to prune ('to trim'). Important recorded forms include preinen (Middle English). Its earlier history remains partly uncertain, so the etymological chain is best treated cautiously. In current use it covers to tidy and clean feathers with the beak; to groom oneself with vanity. The wider family includes derived forms such as preener and related words such as prune.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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