/pri sid"ee euhm/ , n. , pl. presidiums, presidia /-sid"ee euh/ . ( often cap. )
(in the Soviet Union and other Communist countries) an administrative committee, usually permanent and governmental, acting when its parent body is in recess but exercising full powers: the presidium of the Supreme Soviet.
[ 1815-25; prae-sidium, deriv. of praes ( es ) (s. praesid- ) guardian, governor, lit., one sitting before. See PRESIDE, -IUM ]