prefect

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a chief officer or chief magistrate

   the prefect of Paris police

2. 2
   noun

   An official of Ancient Rome who controlled or superintended a particular command, charge, department, etc.

   the prefect of the aqueducts; the prefect of a camp, of a fleet, of the city guard, or of provisions; the pretorian prefect, who was commander of the troops guarding the emperor's person

3. 3
   noun

   The head of a department in France.

4. 4
   noun

   The head of a county in Albania or Romania.

5. 5
   noun

   The head of a prefecture in Japan.

6. 6
   noun

   A school pupil in a position of power over other pupils.

7. 7
   noun

   A commander.

Etymology

From Middle English prefect and prefecte, from Old French prefect (Mod. French préfet), from Latin praefectus (“one placed in charge, overseer, director, prefect”), from praeficere (“to place in charge”).