prēˈzentmənt, prə̇ˈ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English presentement, from Middle French, from Old French, from presenter to present + -ment — more at present
1. archaic : the act of presenting a clergyman to a benefice
2. : the act of presenting to an authority a formal statement of a matter to be dealt with:
a. : the notice taken or statement made by a grand jury of any offense or unlawful state of affairs from their own knowledge or observation without any bill of indictment laid before them
grand jury has just returned a presentment on the subject of lawlessness — Commonweal
special grand jury … returned a presentment — New York Herald Tribune
b. : a similar statement formerly made by a magistrate or constable
c. : a formal complaint made by the authorities of a parish to the bishop or archdeacon at his visitation
3.
a. : representation in art of an object (as by a picture, image, or graphic description) : delineation
the actuality of presentment for which he is noted
b. : something that makes this representation (as a portrait or likeness)
a curious presentment of the Trinity occurs several times in church windows — O. Elfrida Saunders
4. : a theatrical or dramatic representation (as the performance of a play)
5. : presentation 1d
settle matters about the presentment of the petition — Edmund Burke
specifically : the act of producing and offering at the proper time and place a document (as a matured note, bill of exchange, or check) requiring to be accepted or paid by another
6.
a. : the act of presenting to view, perception, notice, or consciousness : description , statement , suggestion
b. : something that is set forth, presented, or exhibited
7. : the appearance, aspect, form, or mode in which something is presented
8.
a. : the appearing of something before the mind : presentation 5
b. : the content of a perception or a thought as it stands before the mind