ˈprez ə n(t)s noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin praesentia, from praesent-, praesens present + -ia -y — more at present
1.
a. : the fact or condition of being present : the state of being in one place and not elsewhere : the condition of being within sight or call, at hand, or in a place being thought of : the fact of being in company, attendance, or association : the state of being in front of or in the same place as someone or something
the presence of free nitrogen bubbles in the body tissues — H.G.Armstrong
hidden in the jungle, their presence undiscovered — Joseph Millard
the indwelling presence of the Divine Spirit in the human soul — W.R.Inge
the effective presence of Britain on the European political scene — Percy Winner
b. : the manner in which Christ is held in some branches of the Christian church to be present in the Eucharist — compare real presence
2.
a. : the part of space within one's ken, call, or influence : the vicinity of or the area immediately near one : the place in front of or around a person
he came into the presence of the king
in her presence he could scarcely speak
removed his hat in the presence of ladies
b. : the vicinity of one of superior or exalted rank
survey the secretary's humor before entering the presence — R.H.Ferrell
specifically : the area proximate to a royal personage
c. obsolete : presence chamber
two great cardinals wait in the presence — Shakespeare
3. archaic : a number of persons assembled : assembly , company
here is like to be a good presence of worthies — Shakespeare
the presence was so numerous that little could be caught of what they said — Thomas Jefferson
4. : the consecrated elements of the Eucharist held in some branches of the Christian church to be identical with the body and blood of Christ
5. : one that is present: as
a. : the actual person or thing having the specified status of being present — used with possessive
your royal presences be rul'd by me — Shakespeare
a fiery column charioting his Godlike presence — John Milton
b. : a person present in the flesh ; specifically : one having a dignified, noble, or impressive appearance
c. : something present of a visible or concrete nature
the impersonal radar reports simply a presence — Lamp
d. : one having existence or influence in the present
these rocks are not dead masses but presences imbued with an … ancient life that still continues — Times Literary Supplement
e. : one that is present (as in a particular area or medium) and that usually exerts influence or holds an important position thereby
not … as an actor on the stage but rather as a presence behind the scenes — Times Literary Supplement
introduced himself in the later books as a kind of presence — John Arthos
6.
a. : the bearing, carriage, mien, or air of a person : personal appearance
a man of heavy, uninspiring presence but considerable eloquence — Cicely V. Wedgwood
especially : fine, stately, or distinguished bearing
her carriage is superb and she has presence — John Martin
a small birdlike person, of no presence — Rose Macaulay
b. : a quality of poise and effectiveness and ease of performance that enables a performer to achieve a close and sympathetic relationship with his audience
the American singer must acquire … the sense of presence on a stage — Rudolf Bing
that sense of a measured and boundless presence that fine acting must afford — New Republic
7. : something (as a spirit, being, or influence) felt or believed to be present
an intangible, mysterious presence seemed to be creeping closer … upon them — O.E.Rölvaag
especially : one having a divine or spiritual nature
before creation a presence existed — Witter Bynner
she could have imagined a seraphic presence in the room — George Meredith
8. : a quality in sound reproduction that gives a listener the illusion of being in the same room as the original source of sound rather than in the room with the sound-reproducing system
music with concert-hall presence recorded on professional equipment — advt
9. : the degree of occurrence of a specific unit (as a biological species or chemical element)
carbon showed a presence of 40 percent in the samples tested