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Introductory; previous; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory; as, preliminary observations to a discourse or book; preliminary articles to a treaty; preliminary measures; preliminary examinations.

gress; the present state of affairs; the present instance. I'll bring thee to the present business Shak.

The art or business of printing and publishing; hence, printed publications, taken collectively, more especially newspapers or the persons employed in writing for them; as, a free press is a blessing, a licentious press is a curse.

Urgency; as, the pressure of business.

ice of impressing letters, characters, or figures on paper, cloth, or other material; the business of a printer, including typesetting and presswork, with their adjuncts; typography; also, the act of producing photographic prints. Block printing. See under Block. -- Printing frame (Photog.), a shallow box, usually hav…

Personal interest; particular business.[Obs.] Nor must I be unmindful of my private. B. Jonson.

A private matter or business; a secret. Chaucer.

n; progress or movement from one thing to another; a measure or step taken in a course of business; a transaction; as, an illegal proceeding; a cautious or a violent proceeding. The proceedings of the high commission. Macaulay.

To manage business for another in court. [Scot.]

ation, if not mechanical, agricultural, or the like, to which one devotes one's self; the business which one professes to understand, and to follow for subsistence; calling; vocation; employment; as, the profession of arms; the profession of a clergyman, lawyer, or physician; the profession of lecturer on chemistry. Hi…

ch of learning; especially, an officer in a university, college, or other seminary, whose business it is to read lectures, or instruct students, in a particular branch of learning; as a professor of theology, of botany, of mathematics, or of political economy.

One who has made considerable advances in any business, art, science, or branch of learning; an expert; an adept; as, proficient in a trade; a proficient in mathematics, music, etc.

lucrative; useful; helpful; advantageous; beneficial; as, a profitable trade; profitable business; a profitable study or profession. What was so profitable to the empire became fatal to the emperor. Arbuthnot. -- Prof"it*a*ble*ness, n. -- Prof"it*a*bly, adv.

In business of any kind; as, the progress of a negotiation; the progress of art.

ourage; to advance; to excite; as, to promote learning; to promote disorder; to promote a business venture. "Born to promote all truth." Milton.

The offer by a party of what he has in view as to an intended business transaction, which, with acceptance, constitutes a contract.

The act of proroguing; the ending of the session of Parliament, and postponing of its business, by the command of the sovereign. [Eng.]

To end the session of a parliament by an order of the sovereign, thus deferring its business. Parliament was prorogued to [meet at] Westminster. Bp. Hall. The Parliament was again prorogued to a distant day. Macaulay.

One who prosecutes or carries on any purpose, plan, or business.

ing prosperous; advance or gain in anything good or desirable; successful progress in any business or enterprise; attainment of the object desired; good fortune; success; as, commercial prosperity; national prosperity. Now prosperity begins to mellow. Shak. Prosperities can only be enjoyed by them who fear not at all t…