prefect
Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word prefect. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word prefect, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say prefect in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word prefect you have here. The definition of the word prefect will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofprefect, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Alternative forms
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”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈpɹiːfɛkt/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Noun
prefect (plural prefects)
- (historical) 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
- 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, , →OCLC, part I, page 196:
- Or think of a decent young citizen in a toga - perhaps too much dice, you know - coming out here in the train of some prefect, or tax-gatherer, or trader even, to mend his fortunes.
- 1951, Arthur Waley, The Life and Times of Po Chü-i, London: George Allen & Unwin, →OCLC, page 33:
- It seems that in the autumn of 803 he went on leave. His uncle Po Chi-chên, had recently been moved from his post at Hsü-chou and promoted to be Prefect of Hsü-chʻang in Central Honan.
- The head of a department in France.
- The head of a county in Albania or Romania.
- The head of a prefecture in Japan.
- (British) A school pupil in a position of power over other pupils.
- A commander.
Synonyms
- (Roman office): provost (obs.)
Related terms
Translations
an official of ancient Rome
the head of a prefecture, whether a Japanese prefecture, French department, or Balkan county
a school pupil in a position of power over other pupils
a commander
|
Anagrams
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin praefectus.
Noun
prefect m (plural prefecți)
- prefect (head of county in Romania)
Declension
Declension of prefect
| singular | plural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| indefinite articulation | definite articulation | indefinite articulation | definite articulation | |
| nominative/accusative | (un) prefect | prefectul | (niște) prefecți | prefecții |
| genitive/dative | (unui) prefect | prefectului | (unor) prefecți | prefecților |
| vocative | prefectule | prefecților | ||