See Also: prefect(medicine)
prefect(dictionary)
sub-prefect(dictionary)
prefect(encyclopedia)
prefect(dictionary)
PREFECT, French law(law)

prefect (iou)



prefect noun. In sense 1 also praefect. LME.
[Old French prefect (mod. prefet) from Latin praefectus use as noun of pa. pple of praeficere put in charge, from prae PRE- + facere make, constitute.]
A chief officer, magistrate, or governor; esp. (a) Roman History any of various civil and military officers, e.g. the civil governor of a province or city; (b) the chief administrative officer of a department in France; = PReFET; (c) Roman Catholic Church a cardinal presiding over a congregation of the Curia. LME.
Prefect of Police the head of police administration in Paris.
In a British secondary (esp. public) school: a senior pupil given authority over and disciplinary responsibility for his or her juniors. E19.
prefectship noun the position or office of prefect; the period of office of a prefect: E17.