PREFECT Definition & Meaning

prefect

or ��·�ڱ𳦳�

[ pree-fekt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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.
Roman Catholic Church.
1. the dean of a Jesuit school or college.
2. a cardinal in charge of a congregation in the Curia Romana.
Chiefly British. a praepostor.

prefect

/ ˌpriːfɛkˈtɔːrɪəl; ˈpriːfɛkt /

noun

(in France, Italy, etc) the chief administrative officer in a department
(in France, etc) the head of a police force
a schoolchild appointed to a position of limited power over his fellows
(in ancient Rome) any of several magistrates or military commanders
Also calledprefect apostolic RC Church an official having jurisdiction over a missionary district that has no ordinary
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 )
RC Church a cardinal in charge of a congregation of the Curia

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Derived Forms

prefectorial, adjective

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��ܲ�·��f�𳦳� noun
�ܲ�d��·��Э�𳦳� noun

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�y��vlog 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

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�y��vlog 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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The judge said that "although the capture of live wild boars in the wild is in principle prohibited, the prefect nevertheless still has the power to authorise it".

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The prefect said it was likely the island would remain on red alert until Monday evening, since heavy rain was expected to continue even after the storm had passed.

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The confirmed death toll on Mayotte so far is 35 but, in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone, local prefect François-Xavier Bieuville feared that it would "definitely be several hundred" and could reach thousands.

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Mayotte's prefect previously told local media the death toll could rise significantly once the damage was fully assessed, warning it would "definitely be several hundred" and could reach thousands.

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Preliminary figures from France's interior ministry report 22 people have died, but Mayotte's prefect has warned the toll could rise to thousands.

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