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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Preses, Preces(s, n. Also: præses, praeses, preases. Plur. preces. [Med. L. preses alderman (c 1102 in Latham), L. præses, præsidem, president, chief, guardian, properly adj. (= presiding), f. præsidēre to preside].(Also med. and mod. L. preses, presid- in various applications (c 1102–c 1555 in Latham).)Only Sc.

The president or chairman of a meeting.In plur. without inflection.(a) 1641 Baillie I 385.
It was agreed that a preses every parliament should be chosen a1650 Row 285.
Bishop Bancroft, the preses 1649 Lamont Diary 9. 1660 Conv. Burghs III 496.
Preases 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 6.
The lordis electes Jon, Earle of Callander, to be præses to there next meeting a1680 Blair Autob. 42.
Which they had declared to the preses 1674 Alford Rec. 212. 1675 Adv. Min. Bk. I 31.
Being chosen praeses in absence of the deane of facultie 1685 Ib. 70.
Preses c1680 W. Row Blair 470.
Sharp … is preses in that court 1684 Law Memor. 238.
At this time is Duke Hamilton made Knight of the Garter, and preses to the king's council of Scotland 1687 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 226.
The lord provost reported that now since he was to leave the chair as preses of the councell 1690 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 47.
And when speaking that he shall direct his discourse to the preses for the tyme only 1696 Glasg. Univ. Mun. II 533.
They did unanimously vote my Lord Halcraig to be ther preses(b) 1644 Misc. Spald. C. I 31.
Supposs yow had been our preces 1652 Glasgow B. Rec. II 218. 1660 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 30. 1682 New Mills Manuf. 27.
This day the managers have thought fitt to chuse a precess amongst themselves … and the precess soe chosen is to signe the dayes journalls he is precess to 1693 Adv. Min. Bk. I 125.
Precess 1696 Glasg. Univ. Mun. II 533.
My lord Halcraig, preces of the committeeplur. 1659 Glasgow B. Rec. II 415.
Williame Boyd, ane of the preces of ane pairt of the tradismen