Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Presence \Pres"ence\, n. [F. pr['e]sence, L. praesentia. See Present.]
The state of being present, or of being within sight or call, or at hand; -- opposed to absence.
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The place in which one is present; the part of space within one's ken, call, influence, etc.; neighborhood without the intervention of anything that forbids intercourse.
Wrath shell be no more Thenceforth, but in thy presence joy entire.
--Milton. -
Specifically, neighborhood to the person of one of superior of exalted rank; also, presence chamber.
In such a presence here to plead my thoughts.
--Shak.An't please your grace, the two great cardinals. Wait in the presence.
--Shak. -
The whole of the personal qualities of an individual; person; personality; especially, the person of a superior, as a sovereign.
The Sovran Presence thus replied.
--Milton. -
An assembly, especially of person of rank or nobility; noble company.
Odmar, of all this presence does contain, Give her your wreath whom you esteem most fair.
--Dryden. -
Port, mien; air; personal appearence. ``Rather dignity of presence than beauty of aspect.''
--Bacon.A graceful presence bespeaks acceptance. -- Collier.
Presence chamber, or Presence room, the room in which a great personage receives company.
--Addison. `` Chambers of presence.''
--Bacon.Presence of mind, that state of the mind in which all its faculties are alert, prompt, and acting harmoniously in obedience to the will, enabling one to reach, as it were spontaneously or by intuition, just conclusions in sudden emergencies.
Wiktionary
n. focus alertness, quick-thinking resourcefulness, stability of thought and feeling, or good sense, especially in spite of circumstances which are distracting, stressful, or otherwise challenging.
WordNet
n. self-control in a crisis; ability to say or do the right thing in an emergency
Wikipedia
Presence of Mind is a 1999 drama film directed by Antoni Aloy. The film is based on the story The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. A woman is hired to watch over two recently orphaned children, Flora and her brother Miles (played by Nilo Mur). The woman starts seeing ghosts and the children begin some very peculiar and disturbing behavior.
Presence Of Mind is the debut album for Swedish AOR/ Melodic Rock band Alyson Avenue originally released in 2000, best known for being fronted by former lead vocalist Anette Olzon who also fronted Nightwish.
Usage examples of "presence of mind".
He said you showed presence of mind, toughness, boldness, and measured judgement.
But he was not easily daunted, and though the situation was in the highest degree perplexing, almost desperate, he did not for a moment lose his presence of mind.
As soon as the prudent commander perceived this unexpected disorder, without losing his presence of mind, he instantly adopted the measure of ordering his men to dismount and their horses to be taken into the wood, where they were fastened to the trees.
Bates, at once comprehending that some terrible misfortune had occurred, did not lose his presence of mind.
Shaftoe notes fragments of antennas skittering and bouncing across the roof of the fortress, and occasional streaks of tracers, and hopes that the men on those ships have the presence of mind to hold their fire before he lands on the fucking thing, which will be in a few seconds.
Even Odin, who was always praised for his presence of mind and eloquent tongue, was disconcerted by the flood of mockery and abuse which flowed from Loki's lips.
This allusion was bitter, and did not escape the duke, who turned pale in spite of his presence of mind, on finding that I was aware of the malicious repartee which he had made to the king when talking of me, and which I have already mentioned to you.
She had barely strength and presence of mind enough to conceal the paper in her bosom before sinking in a swoon.
Had it not been for the presence of mind of Hans, I must infallibily have fallen into the waves and been drowned.
Her heart nearly stopped as he turned and scowled, but she had enough presence of mind to close the door behind her.
Mother Mastiff gestured toward the platform with her cane, a wide, sweeping gesture that the clerk had the presence of mind to duck.
Bischoff was up on the bridge, enjoying some fresh air, and had the presence of mind to scream some thing about evasive action into the speaking tube.
Shaftoe has the presence of mind to break eye contact with the chilly German.
The lack of blood seemingly halves his IQ for a day or two, but even so, when he sees Douglas MacArthur Shaftoe drawing up the shopping list of men and gear that they need to dig up Golgotha, he has enough presence of mind to say: strike all of that stuff.
I replied, with so much presence of mind as to please the duc de Richelieu.