preside

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   act as president

   preside over companies and corporations

2. 2
   verb

   To exercise authority or control.

   The firſt day of November was dedicated to the angel preſiding over fruits, ſeeds, &c. and was therefore named la mas ubhal, that is, the day of the apple fruit, and being pronounced lamasool, the English have corrupted the name to lambswool, a name they give to a compoſition made on this eve of roaſted apples, ſugar, and ale.

3. 3
   verb

   To be a featured solo performer.

   I’ll preside at the organ.

4. 4
   verb

   To act as president or chairperson.

Etymology

From Old French presider, from Latin praesidēre (“preside”), from pre- (“before”) + sedere (“to sit”). Displaced Old English foresittan, which might have been a calque of the Latin.