Being or abiding, as a person, in this or any specified place; being in view or immediately at hand: opposed to absent.Present in this sense is often used in addressing a letter which is to be delivered to some one either actually present, or near at hand, as in the same neighborhood or town.Now existing; being at this time; not past or future: as, the present session of Congress.Being now in mind, Under consideration.Actually in consciousness.Prompt or ready at need.n. Present time; time now passing.n. Present business; an affair in hand.n. The money or other property a person has on hand.n. plural In law, a term used in a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney, or other document, to express the document itself; this present writing: as in the phrase “Know all men by these presents” (that is. by this very document, by the words here set down); hence, any writ or writing.n. In grammar, the present tense.At once; immediately; presently.To bring or introduce into the presence of some one, especially of a superior; recommend for acquaintance; make known: as, to present an envoy to the king; with a reflexive pronoun, to come into the presence of any one.To show; exhibit; demonstrate; reveal.To bring or lay before one for acceptance; offer as a gift, generally with formality; make an offer or expression of; hence, to bestow; give: as, to present a ring or a book to a friend; to present one's compliments.To approach with a gift or offering; give a present to; bestow a gift upon.To hand over ceremoniously; give in charge or possession, as for use or service.Eccles., to offer or recommend to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution. See presentation, 5.To nominate for support at a public school or other institution.To proffer; offer openly.To lay before a judge, magistrate, or governing body for action or consideration; submit, as a petition, remonstrance, etc., for decision or settlement to the proper authorities.To accuse to the authorities; bring a charge against before those having authority to act upon it; lay before a court of judicature, as an object of inquiry; give notice of officially, as for a crime or offense.To direct; point; level; aim, as a weapon or firearm: as, to present a loaded pistol.To represent; personate; act.To make a presentation, particularly to an ecclesiastical office.n. A thing presented or given; a gift.n. (prē˙-zent′ ). [An elliptical use of the verb.] Milit., the position from which a rifle or musket is fired.n. Synonyms Present, Gift, Donation, Gratuity, Largess, Grant. The difference between present and gift is felt in the fact that one may be willing to accept as a present that which he would not be willing to accept as a gift: a gift is to help the one receiving it; a present does him honor, or expresses friendly feeling toward him. A present is therefore ordinarily to an individual; but in law gift is used, to the exclusion of present, as including all transfers of property without consideration and for the benefit of the donee. A donation is of considerable value, and generally made to some public institution: as, a donation of books to a public library. Gratuity emphasizes the fact that the receiver has no legal claim to the gift; it is a gift to an inferior, as a fee to a servant, and generally a small sum: as, a self-respecting man will not expect a gratuity for every little service. Largess is an old word, representing a gift from a superior, especially one high in authority, generally shared by a considerable number. A grant is rarely the act of a private individual, but rather of a sovereign, legislature, or corporation: as, a grant of land to a company.In obstetrics, to appear first: said of the part of the fetus which is in advance during labor. See presentation, 6.
