I.gen. plur. praesidium, Flor. 2, 17, 16), adj. and subst. [praesideo].
I. Sitting before a thing, to guard, take care of, or direct it; presiding, protecting, guarding, defending: “locus,” a place of refuge, Plaut. Cas. 5, 1, 11 dub.: “dextra,” Sen. Med. 247: “di praesides imperii,” protecting deities, Tac. H. 4, 53.—
II. Subst.: praesĕs , ĭdis, comm.
A. A protector, guard, guardian, defender: “ite nunc jam ex praesidio praesides,” Plaut. Rud. 4, 4, 7: “senatus rei publicae custos, praeses, propugnator,” Cic. Sest. 65, 137: “patrii Penates, qui huic urbi et rei publicae praesides estis,” Cic. Dom. 57, 144: “tribunus plebis, quem majores praesidem libertatis custodemque esse voluerunt,” id. Agr. 2, 6, 15; Liv. 6, 16.—
B. Transf., in gen., one that presides over, a president, superintendent, head, chief, ruler: “praeses belli,” i. e. Minerva, Verg. A. 11, 483: “vobis per suffragia uti praesides olim, nunc dominos destinatis,” Sall. H. 3, 61, 6 Dietsch: “provinciarum,” governors, Suet. Aug. 23: quorum (praetorum) in provinciis jurisdictionem praesides earum habent, Gai. Inst. 1, 6; cf.: “praesidis nomen generale est, eo quod et proconsules et legati Caesaris, et omnes provincias regentes (licet senatores sint) praesides appellentur,” Dig. 1, tit. 1.
