▪ I. prepositor1, præ-
(prɪˈpɒzɪtə(r))
Also 6 -er, -our.
[Alteration of L. præpositus: see note s.v. præpostor.]
1. The name given in some English public schools to those senior boys who are entrusted with much of the discipline of the school, esp. out of the classroom; now usually præpostor, q.v. Also fig. and in fig. context.
| a 1518 Skelton Magnyf. 1941, I am Goddys Preposytour; I prynt them with a pen; Because of theyr neglygence and of theyr wanton vagys. 1519 W. Horman Vulg. 92 b, I am prepositer of my boke, duco classem. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 259 b, And who hath made you usher I pray you, or prepositour of Ciceroes schoole? 1606 J. Carpenter Solomon's Solace i. 2 For this end had King Solomon those prudent and meete prepositours. 1649 Heylin Relat. & Observ. ii. 30 A meer Free-schoole, where Cromwell is Head-school-master, Ireton Usher, and..Fairfax a Prepositor. 1681–2 Verney Lett. in R. T. Warner Winchester iv. (1900) 43 He is one of the best, if not the best scholar in the Schoole of his standing, though Hee Bee not yet a Praepositor. 1706 Phillips, Prepositor, (School-Term) a Scholar appointed by the Master, to over see the rest; such a one is otherwise call'd Observator and Monitor. 1855 Lady Holland Sidney Smith I. i. 8 Whilst at Winchester he had been one year Præpositor of the College, and another, Præpositor of the Hall. 1894 Sir J. D. Astley 50 Years Life I. 16 It was eight or ten days before he came under the Prepositor's ken [at Eton]. |
(β) in corrupt form propositor.
| 1633 E. Verney Let. fr. Winchester in Verney Mem. (1892) I. 156 His schoole master being at London, the propositors begin to affront mee. 1702 C. Mather Magn. Chr. iii. i. iii. (1852) 303 He made such proficiency that while he was the least boy in the school he was made a propositor. |
† 2. The master, director, or manager (of a house, etc.); the president or head (præpositus) of a monastic house. Obs.
| 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 343 The Prepositor of each [Bathing] House [in Ispahan] gives Notice to all Comers by blowing a Horn, when the Houses are ready. 1881 Blackw. Mag. Apr. 489 The fame for sanctity of their leader—or praepositor as he was called at first—spread throughout the land. |
Hence preposiˈtorial a., of or pertaining to prepositors in schools.
| 1844 Mozley Ess. (1878) II. 14 Their prepositorial authority, as well as the fagging system, having been part of the old school plan, which he found going on when he came to Rugby. 1859 Hodson 12 Yrs. Soldier's Life in India 3 Though he immediately re-established the shattered prestige of præpositorial power he contrived to make himself very popular with various classes of boys. |
▪ II. ‖ preˈpositor2, præ- Roman Law.
[L. agent-noun from præpōnĕre to appoint over, charge with the management of an affair; f. præ before, in front + pōnĕre to place.]
The principal who deputes the management of any business or commercial undertaking to a factor, consignee, or institor. (Formerly used in Scotch Law.)
| 1681 Stair Instit. Law Scot. i. x. §47 By the Contracts of Institors in relation to that wherein they were intrusted, their prepositors are oblieged, as Exercitors are as to Maritime matters; so Prepositors are correspondent in Trafficque at Land. 1754 Erskine Princ. Law Scot. iii. iii. §14 Tho' the institors be pupils, and so cannot bind themselves, the prepositor..stands obliged by their deeds. 18.. W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. (1861) 451/2 Prepositors are liable for the acts of the institor. |