president

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The elected head of state in a republic, such as the United States.

   The president gave a speech to the nation last night.

2. 2
   noun

   The person in charge of a company, club, or organization.

   She was elected president of the student council.

3. 3
   noun

   A person who leads or chairs a meeting.

   The president of the committee opened the discussion.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

President entered late Middle English through French president, “the appointed or elected head of a gathering,” from Latin praesidens. This was related to praesidere, “to preside, govern, or guard,” formed from prae, “before,” and sedere, “to sit.” The sense “elected head of a republic” was first used in the United States in 1784.

From Old French president, from Latin praesidēns (“presiding over; president, leader”) (accusative: praesidentem). The Latin word is the substantivized present active participle of the verb praesideō (“preside over”). The verb is composed from prae (“before”) and sedeō (“sit”). The original meaning of the verb is 'to sit before' in the sense of presiding at a meeting. A secondary meaning of the verb is 'to command, to govern'. So praesidēns means 'the presiding one on a meeting' or 'governor, commander'.

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