I.a. [sedeo], to sit before or in front of.
I. Lit. (mostly postclass. and rare): “pro aede Capitolini Jovis praesidere,” Suet. Aug. 26.—
B. Transf., in time, to sit beforehand: “in cujus (Mutini) sinu nubentes praesident, ut, etc.,” Lact. 1, 20 fin.—
II. Trop.
A. To guard, watch, protect, defend.
(α).
With dat.: “ego hic tibi praesidebo,” Plaut. Most. 5, 1, 47: “ego hic restitrix praesidebo,” id. Truc. 4, 2, 5; id. Rud. 4, 4, 7: “urbi,” Cic. Phil. 13, 9, 20; Liv. 22, 11, 9; cf. id. 10, 17; 23, 32 init.; 24, 40 init.; 36, 5, 5; “38, 51, 8: Gallia, quae semper praesidet atque praesedit huic imperio libertatique communi,” Cic. Phil. 5, 13, 37: “huic urbi, atque huic imperio,” id. Sull. 31, 86.—
(β).
With acc.: “socios,” Sall. H. 2, 28 Dietsch: “agros suos,” id. ib. 3, 66: “proximum Galliae litus,” Tac. A. 4, 5: “civium manus litora oceani praesidebat,” id. ib. 4, 72.—
B. To preside over, to have the care or management of, to superintend, direct, command (syn. praesum).
(α).
With dat.: “ut idem ad portas urbanis praesideat rebus,” Caes. B. C. 1, 85: “Mars...praesidet armis,” Ov. F. 3, 85: “Actiacis ludis,” Suet. Tib. 6: “spectaculis,” id. Claud. 7.—
(β).
With acc.: “P. Atellio, qui Pannoniam praesidebat,” who commanded in Pannonia, Tac. A. 12, 29: “exercitum,” to command, id. ib. 3, 39.—
(δ).
Absol.: “(in senatu) princeps praesidebat,” presided, Plin. Ep. 2, 11, 10.—Hence, praesĭdens , entis, P. a.; as subst.: a president, director, ruler (post-Aug. for praeses): “superbia praesidentium,” governors, Tac. A. 3, 40: praesidentium apparitores, Cod. Th. 8, 7, 13.
