presidium

[ pri-sid-ee-uh m ]
/ prɪˈsɪd i əm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR presidium ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural pre·sid·i·ums, pre·sid·i·a [pri-sid-ee-uh] /prɪˈsɪd i ə/. (often initial capital letter)

(in the Soviet Union and other Communist countries) an administrative committee, usually permanent and governmental, acting when its parent body is in recess but exercising full powers: the presidium of the Supreme Soviet.

Origin of presidium

1815–25; < Latin prae-sidium, derivative of praes(es) (stem praesid-) guardian, governor, literally, one sitting before. See preside, -ium

Words nearby presidium

presidential primary, presidential suite, presidents' day, presidentship, presidio, presidium, presignify, presinter, presley, presley, elvis, presoak

Words related to presidium

legislature, management, ministry, executive, cabinet, bureau, board, committee, department, presidency, upstairs, general, chair, president, commander, consulate, chairperson, headquarters, embassy, command

Example sentences from the Web for presidium

British Dictionary definitions for presidium

presidium

praesidium

/ (prɪˈsɪdɪəm) /

noun plural -iums or -ia (-ɪə)

(often capital) (in Communist countries) a permanent committee of a larger body, such as a legislature, that acts for it when it is in recess
a collective presidency, esp of a nongovernmental organization

Word Origin for presidium

C20: from Russian prezidium, from Latin praesidium, from praesidēre to superintend; see preside