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# preside

verb (preside, presides, presided, presiding)

«preside» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To be in charge of a meeting, ceremony, court or event: «The judge presided over the trial.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preside/#m1)
2. To be in control of a situation or period: «He presided over a time of peace.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preside/#m2)

### In the lessons

In law and civics lessons: a judge presides over a court; a chairperson presides over a meeting. In Alice in Wonderland the King of Hearts presides over the trial of the Knave of Hearts, with the Queen shouting «Off with his head!» In church, a priest or minister may preside at communion.

### Examples

- The judge presided over the trial. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preside/#x1)
- The head teacher presided at the prize-giving. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preside/#x2)
- The King of Hearts presided over the trial in Wonderland. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preside/#x3)
- The mayor presided over the meeting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preside/#x4)
- The priest presided at the wedding. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preside/#x5)
- Gran presided over the Christmas dinner table. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preside/#x6)
- Terminus was the god who presided over all boundaries and landmarks. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preside/#x7)

### Note

Usually followed by «over» or «at». Related: president (the person who presides), presidency. Regular verb: presided.

## In Jewish tradition

To preside is to lead or oversee. The Levites oversaw workers repairing the Temple under Josiah.

**Interpretation.** Tradition notes that the Levites had many roles beyond service, such as scribes and guards.

### Examples

- Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and presided over all that did the work in every manner of service; and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters. (Writings 2CH.34.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/preside/#x1)

### Note

Usually followed by «over» or «at». Related: president (the person who presides), presidency. Regular verb: presided.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «preside» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preside/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«preside» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/preside.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «preside» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/preside/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«preside» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/preside.html) on Mova free.