I. Lit., a presiding over; hence, defence, protection, help, aid, assistance; esp. of soldiers who are to serve as a guard, garrison, escort, or convoy: “proficisci praesidio suis,” Nep. Ages. 3: “praesidio esse alicui,” id. ib. 7: Caes. B. G. 1, 44: “hanc sibi rem praesidio sperant futuram,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 65, § 167: “tectus praesidio firmo amicorum,” id. Sull. 18, 51: “absque me foret et meo praesidio, etc.,” Plaut. Pers. 5, 2, 61: “ut meae stultitiae in justitiā tuā sit aliquid praesidii,” Ter. Heaut. 4, 1, 33: “in tutelā ac praesidio bellicae virtutis,” Cic. Mur. 10, 22: “Veneris praesidio ferox,” Hor. C. 1, 15, 13.—Esp. of soldiers acting as a guard, convoy, escort: “legiones, quae praesidio impedimentis erant,” Caes. B. G. 2, 19: “regale,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 30.—
II. Transf.
A. That which aids, defends, or protects, defence, assistance, protection: “ad hoc ipsum judicium cum praesidio venit,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 5, 13: “armatorum,” id. Phil. 2, 44, 112; cf.: “O et praesidium,” protector, Hor. C. 1, 1, 2: “quantum praesidium perdis,” Verg. A. 11, 58.—
2. In partic., in milit. lang., those who by their presence protect a place, a camp, or a supply of arms or provisions, a guard, garrison, convoy, escort, troops, soldiers, etc.: “praesidium est dictum, quia extra castra praesidebant loco aliquo, quo tutior regio esset,” Varr. L. L. 5, § 90 Müll.: “occupatoque oppido, ibi praesidium collocat,” garrison, Caes. B. G. 1, 38: “(turres) praesidiis firmare,” with a garrison, with troops, Sall. J. 23, 1: “quam (Italiam) praesidiis confirmaretis,” Cic. Agr. 1, 5, 16: “obsidere atque occupare,” id. ib. 2, 28, 75: “ex oppido educere,” Caes. B. C. 1, 13: “dimittere,” Cic. Fam. 2, 17, 3: “oppido imponere,” Liv. 24, 7: “praesidium dedit, ut eo tuto perveniret,” an escort, Nep. Ep. 4, 5: “praesidium ex arce expellere,” a garrison, id. ib. 10, 3: “praesidium ex regionibus depellere,” id. Paus. 2, 1: “praesidia interficere,” troops, id. Milt. 4, 1: “praesidia custodiasque disponere,” posts, pickets, Caes. B. G. 7, 55: “Italia tota armis praesidiisque tenetur,” troops, Cic. Att. 9, 3, 1: “praesidia deducere,” Caes. B. G. 2, 33: “galeatum ponit ubique Praesidium,” Juv. 8, 239.—
B. Any place occupied by troops, as a hill, a camp, etc.; a post, station, intrenchment, fortification, camp: “qui propter metum praesidium relinquit,” leaves his post, Cic. Tusc. 3, 8, 17: “praesidio decedere,” Liv. 4, 29: “procul in praesidio esse,” Nep. Timol. 1, 4: “praesidium occupare et munire,” Caes. B. C. 3, 45: “cohortes ex proximis praesidiis deductae,” id. B. G. 7, 87: “milites in praesidiis disponere,” id. ib. 7, 34: “in praesidiis esse,” in the camp, with the army, Cic. Lig. 9, 28: “in adversariorum praesidiis,” id. Rosc. Am. 43, 126: “posito castello super vestigia paterni praesidii,” fort, Tac. A. 1, 56: “obsidium coepit per praesidia,” redoubts, id. ib. 4, 49.—Trop.: “de praesidio et statione vitae decedere,” Cic. Sen. 26, 73.—
C. In gen., aid, help, assistance of any kind, Plaut. Pers. 1, 3, 45: “quod satis esset praesidii, dedit,” every thing needful for his support and safety, Nep. Them. 8, 5: “quaerere sibi praesidia periculis, et adjumenta honoribus,” Cic. Imp. Pomp. 24, 70: “magnum sibi praesidium ad beatam vitam comparare,” id. Tusc. 2, 1, 2: “omnibus vel naturae, vel doctrinae praesidiis ad dicendum parati,” id. de Or. 1, 9, 38: “me biremis praesidio scaphae tutum aura feret,” Hor. C. 3, 29, 62: “ad praesidium aquae calidae decurritur,” Col. 12, 50: “praesidia afferre navem factura minorem,” Juv. 12, 56.—Trop., defence, protection, help: “fortissimum praesidium pudoris,” Cic. Sull. 28, 77: “insigne maestis praesidium reis,” Hor. C. 2, 1, 13: “si qua aliunde putas rerum exspectanda tuarum, Praesidia,” Juv. 7, 23.—
2. In partic., a remedy against diseases: “aurium morbis praesidium est,” Plin. 22, 22, 44, § 90: “contra serpentes praesidio esse,” id. 28, 4, 7, § 35.
