To be in charge of or lead a meeting, ceremony, or other formal event.
From Latin 'praesidere' (to sit before, guard, protect)—'prae' (before) + 'sedere' (to sit). The meaning evolved from literally sitting in front to figuratively being in control.
The word literally means 'to sit before' others, which makes sense when you picture a judge sitting elevated above everyone else in a courtroom—that physical arrangement of power is baked right into the word's DNA!
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