prefect

pre·fect

in ancient Rome, any of various high-ranking officials or chief magistrates in charge of governmental or military departments
in modern times, any of various administrative officials; specif.,
1. the head of a department of France
2. the chief of the Paris police
in some private schools, esp. in England, an older student with disciplinary authority

Origin of prefect

Middle English prefecte from Old French from Classical Latin praefectus, past participle of praeficere, to set over: see pre- and -fy

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MLA Style

"prefect." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/prefect>.

APA Style

prefect. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/prefect

prefect

noun

A high administrative official or chief officer, as:
a. Any of several high military or civil officials in ancient Rome.
b. The chief of police of Paris, France.
c. A chief administrative official of a department of France.
d. The administrator in charge of discipline at a Jesuit school.
A student monitor or officer, especially in a private school.

Origin of prefect

Middle English from Old French from Latin praefectus from past participle of praeficere to place at the head of prae- pre- facere to make ; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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