{ }, a. [ p. p. appress, which is not in use. See Adpress. ] (Bot.) Pressed close to, or lying against, something for its whole length, as against a stem. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. buprestis, Gr. &unr_;, a poisonous beetle, which, being eaten by cattle in the grass, caused them to swell up and and die; &unr_; ox, cow + &unr_; to blow up, swell out. ] (Zool.) One of a tribe of beetles, of the genus Buprestis and allied genera, usually with brilliant metallic colors. The larvæ are usually borers in timber, or beneath bark, and are often very destructive to trees. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Imprested; p. pr. & vb. n. Impresting. ] [ Pref. im- + prest: cf. It. imprestare. See Prest, n. ] To advance on loan. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. It. impresto, imprestito, LL. impraestitum. See Imprest, v. t., and Impress compulsion to serve. ] A kind of earnest money; loan; -- specifically, money advanced for some public service, as in enlistment. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

The clearing of their imprests for what little of their debts they have received. Pepys.

n. A sum of money to be used as petty cash. [ PJC ]

n. (Law) See Purpresture. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To give as a loan; to lend. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Sums of money . . . prested out in loan. E. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

imp. & p. p. of Press. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. prest, F. prêt, fr. L. praestus ready. Cf. Presto. ] 1. Ready; prompt; prepared. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

All prest to such battle he was. R. of Gloucester. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Neat; tidy; proper. [ Obs. ] Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Prest money, money formerly paid to men when they enlisted into the British service; -- so called because it bound those that received it to be ready for service when called upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. prest, F. prêt, fr. OF. prester to lend, F. prêter, fr. L. praestare to stand before, to become surety for, to fulfill, offer, supply; prae before + stare to stand. See Pre-, and Stand, and cf. Press to force into service. ] 1. Ready money; a loan of money. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Requiring of the city a prest of six thousand marks. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) A duty in money formerly paid by the sheriff on his account in the exchequer, or for money left or remaining in his hands. Cowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Payable. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praestatio a performing, paying, fr. praestare: cf. F. prestation. ] (O. Eng. Law) A payment of money; a toll or duty; also, the rendering of a service. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Prestation money, a sum of money paid yearly by archdeacons and other dignitaries to their bishop. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;, from &unr_; to kindle or burn, and &unr_; to blow up, swell out by blowing. ] 1. A meteor or exhalation formerly supposed to be thrown from the clouds with such violence that by collision it is set on fire. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. One of the veins of the neck when swollen with anger or other excitement. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. prestre. See Priest. ] A priest or presbyter; as, Prester John. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. ] (Anat.) The anterior segment of the sternum; the manubrium. -- Pre*ster"nal a. [1913 Webster]

a. Nimble-fingered; having fingers fit for prestidigitation, or juggling. [ R. ] “His prestidigital hand.” Charles Reade. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Legerdemain; sleight of hand; juggling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praesto ready + digitus finger: cf. F. prestidigitateur. ] One skilled in legerdemain or sleight of hand; a juggler. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. praestigum delusion, illusion, praestigae deceptions, jugglers' tricks, prob. fr. prae before + the root of stinguere to extinguish, originally, to prick. See Stick, v. ] 1. Delusion; illusion; trick. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The sophisms of infidelity, and the prestiges of imposture. Bp. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Weight or influence derived from past success; expectation of future achievements founded on those already accomplished; force or charm derived from acknowledged character or reputation. “The prestige of his name must go for something.” Sir G. C. Lewis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praestigiare to deceive by juggling tricks, fr. praestigae. See Prestige. ] Legerdemain; prestidigitation. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praestigiator. ] A juggler; prestidigitator. [ Obs. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Consisting of impostures; juggling. [ Obs. ] Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praestigiosus. ] Practicing tricks; juggling. [ Obs. ] Cotton Mather. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. praestimonium, fr. L. praestare to furnish, supply: cf. F. prestimonie. See Prest, n. ] (Canon Law) A fund for the support of a priest, without the title of a benefice. The patron in the collator. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖adv. [ It., superl. of presto. ] (Mus.) Very quickly; with great rapidity. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ It. or Sp. presto quick, quickly. See Prest, a. ] 1. Quickly; immediately; in haste; suddenly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Presto! begone! 'tis here again. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) Quickly; rapidly; -- a direction for a quick, lively movement or performance; quicker than allegro, or any rate of time except prestissimo. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praestrictio a binding fast, fr. praestringere. See Pre-, and Stringent. ] Obstruction, dimness, or defect of sight. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Probably corrupted (see Prest) fr. OF. pourprisure, fr. pourprendre: cf. LL. purprestura. Cf. Purprise. ] (Law) Wrongful encroachment upon another's property; esp., any encroachment upon, or inclosure of, that which should be common or public, as highways, rivers, harbors, forts, etc. [ Written also pourpresture. ] [ 1913 Webster ]