prefect

or prae·fect

[ pree-fekt ]

noun

1. a person appointed to any of various positions of command, authority, or superintendence, as a chief magistrate in ancient Rome or the chief administrative official of a department of France or Italy.
2. Roman Catholic Church.
   1. the dean of a Jesuit school or college.
   2. a cardinal in charge of a congregation in the Curia Romana.
3. Chiefly British. a praepostor.

prefect

/ ˌpriːfɛkˈtɔːrɪəl; ˈpriːfɛkt /

noun

1. (in France, Italy, etc) the chief administrative officer in a department
2. (in France, etc) the head of a police force
3. a schoolchild appointed to a position of limited power over his fellows
4. (in ancient Rome) any of several magistrates or military commanders
5. Also calledprefect apostolic RC Church an official having jurisdiction over a missionary district that has no ordinary
6. RC Church one of two senior masters in a Jesuit school or college (the prefect of studies and the prefect of discipline or first prefect )
7. RC Church a cardinal in charge of a congregation of the Curia

Derived Forms

• prefectorial, adjective

Other Words From

• sub·prefect noun
• under·prefect noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of prefect¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin praefectus “overseer, director” (noun use of past participle of praeficere “to make prior,” i.e., “put in charge”), equivalent to prae- “before, prior to” ( pre- ) + -fectus (combining form of factus, past participle of facere “to make, do” ( do ¹ ); fact

Word History and Origins

Origin of prefect¹

C14: from Latin praefectus one put in charge, from praeficere to place in authority over, from prae before + facere to do, make

Example Sentences

Rich and smooth with a subtly bitter flavor, Guinness is a prefect drinking beer—and baking beer.

From The Daily Beast

She was intimate with a prefect of Orne, who was the natural father of Emile Blondet.

From Project Gutenberg

He was chosen a prefect, and he married the wealthy widow of Comte de Montcornet, who offered him her hand when she became free.

From Project Gutenberg

With six of his companions he was brought before the prefect for refusing obedience to the imperial decree.

From Project Gutenberg

She would probably have favored him, had he not been made prefect and left the city.

From Project Gutenberg

But one day the prefect Agricola instituted a chase, and his party discovered the holy bishop and brought him before their master.

From Project Gutenberg