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The act of previous determination; a purpose formed beforehand; as, the predetermination of God's will. Hammond.

To determine (something) beforehand. Sir M. Hale.

To tell or declare beforehand; to foretell; to prophesy; to presage; as, to predict misfortune; to predict the return of a comet.

To elect or choose beforehand. [R.] Walter Harte.

To discover beforehand.

Disposing beforehand; predisposing. -- n.

To dispose or incline beforehand; to give a predisposition or bias to; as, to predispose the mind to friendship.

To elect beforehand.

Election beforehand.

To employ beforehand. "Preëmployed by him." Shak.

The act or right of purchasing before others. Specifically:

To erect beforehand.

To establish beforehand.

Settlement beforehand.

To examine beforehand.

To exist previously; to exist before something else.

Existence of the soul before its union with the body; -- a doctrine held by certain philosophers. Addison.

The theory of a preëxistence of souls before their association with human bodies. Emerson.

s or conditions preceding fecundation, especially to the changes which the ovum undergoes before fecundation.

To carry or bring (something) forward, or before one; hence, to bring for consideration, acceptance, judgment, etc.; to offer; to present; to proffer; to address; -- said especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc. He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl. Pope. Presently prefer his suit to Cæsar…