pre·his·tor·ic also pre·his·tor·i·cal adjective : of, relating to, or existing in the period before written history began

pre·judge verb : to judge before full hearing or examination

1prejudice noun 1 : DAMAGE; especially : detriment to one's rights or claims

2 : an opinion made without adequate basis

Synonyms

bias, favor, partiality, partisanship—more at BIAS

2prejudice verb -diced; -dic·ing 1 : to damage by a judgment or action esp. at law

2 : to cause to have prejudice

prejudiced adjective : resulting from or having a prejudice or bias for or esp. against

Synonyms

biased, one-sided, partial, partisan—more at PARTIAL

bigoted, intolerant, narrow, narrow-minded—more at INTOLERANT

prej·u·di·cial adjective 1 : tending to injure or impair

2 : leading to premature judgment or unwarranted opinion

Synonyms

adverse, counter, disadvantageous, harmful, hostile, inimical, negative, unfavorable, unfriendly, unsympathetic—more at ADVERSE

pre·kin·der·gar·ten noun 1 : NURSERY SCHOOL

2 : a class or program preceding kindergarten

prel·ate noun : an ecclesiastic (as a bishop) of high rank

— prel·a·cy noun

pre·launch adjective : preparing for or preliminary to launch

pre·lim noun or adjective : PRELIMINARY

1preliminary noun, plural -nar·ies : something that precedes or introduces the main business or event

2preliminary adjective : preceding the main discourse or business

pre·lude noun 1 : an introductory performance or event

2 : a musical section or movement introducing the main theme; also : an organ solo played at the beginning of a church service

prem abbreviation premium

pre·mar·i·tal adjective : existing or occurring before marriage

pre·ma·ture adjective : happening, coming, born, or done before the usual or proper time

Synonyms

early, precocious, unseasonable, untimely—more at EARLY

pre·ma·ture·ly adverb : in a premature manner : too soon

Synonyms

beforehand, early, precociously, unseasonably—more at EARLY

1premed noun : a premedical student or course of study

2premed adjective : PREMEDICAL

pre·med·i·cal adjective : preceding and preparing for the professional study of medicine

pre·med·i·tate verb : to consider and plan beforehand

— pre·med·i·ta·tion noun

pre·men·o·paus·al adjective : of, relating to, or being in the period preceding menopause

pre·men·stru·al adjective : of, relating to, or occurring in the period just before menstruation

premenstrual syndrome noun : a varying group of symptoms manifested by some women prior to menstruation

premie variant of PREEMIE

1premier adjective [ORIGIN: ME primer, primier, fr. AF, first, chief, fr. L primarius of the first rank]

1 : first in rank or importance : CHIEF

2 : earliest in time

Synonyms

[1] chief, first, foremost, head, high, lead, preeminent, primary, prime, principal, supreme—more at HEAD

[2] first, inaugural, initial, maiden, original, pioneer—more at FIRST

2premier noun : PRIME MINISTER

— pre·mier·ship noun

1premiere noun : a first performance

2premiere also pre·mier verb pre·miered; pre·mier·ing : to give or receive a first public performance

prem·ise noun 1 : a statement of fact or a supposition made or implied as a basis of argument

2 plural : a piece of land with the structures on it; also : the place of business of an enterprise

Synonyms

[1] assumption, postulate, presumption, supposition—more at ASSUMPTION

premises [2] demesne, grounds, park, yard

pre·mi·um noun [ORIGIN: L praemium booty, profit, reward, fr. prae before + emere to take, buy]

1 : a reward or recompense for a particular act : REWARD, PRIZE

2 : a sum over and above the stated value

3 : something paid over and above a fixed wage or price

4 : something given with a purchase

5 : the sum paid for a contract of insurance

6 : an unusually high value

pre·mix verb : to mix before use

pre·mo·lar adjective : situated in front of or preceding the molar teeth; especially