precinct en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈpɹisɪŋkt/
- (US) audio
- prē'sĭngkt
Etymology
From Middle English precinct, precincte, early 15th century, in sense of “district for government purposes”, from Medieval Latin precinctum, alternative form of praecinctum (“enclosure, boundary line”), neuter singular of praecinctus, perfect passive participle of Latin praecingō (“surround, gird”), from prae (“before”) + cingō (“surround, encircle”), from which also cinch. Cognate to Italian precingere (“to encircle”).
Meanings
-
(in-plural) An enclosed space having defined limits, normally marked by walls.
For, by the fundamental Laws of the Realm, it is Capital in any Perſon, of what Quality ſoever, to make water within the Precincts of the Palace.
1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author by an Extraordinary Stratagem Prevents an Invasion. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 91:
- (in-plural) The general area surrounding a place, environs.
- (UK) A pedestrianized and uncovered shopping area.
- (US) A subdivision of a city under the jurisdiction of a specific group of police; the police station situated in that district.
- (US) A subdivision of a city or other locality for the purposes of voting and representation in local government. In cities, precincts may be grouped into wards.
-
(archaic) A district over which someone or some body of people has control in general; province, sphere of control.
But ſince I loue to liue at libertie, As eaſily may you get the Souldans crowne, As any prizes out of my precinct.
c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:
- (archaic) A surrounding boundary or limit.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| præcinct | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| precincts | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
precinct money · shopping precinct · precinctive · precinct committeeman · pedestrian precinct
Translations (63)
de Polizeirevier (police district) · fr arrondissement de commune (police district) · de Fußgängereinkaufszone (uncovered shopping area) · de umschlossener Bezirk (enclosed space) · ru торго́вая зо́на (uncovered shopping area) · cs prostory (enclosed space) · de Wahlbezirk (voting district) · de Fußgängerzone (uncovered shopping area) · bg полицейски участък (police district) · fa حوزه (voting district) · nl omsloten ruimte (enclosed space) · es recinto (enclosed space) · hu bevásárlónegyed (uncovered shopping area) · hu választókörzet (voting district) · sv polisstation (police district) · is lögregluumdæmi (police district) · fi jalankulkualue (uncovered shopping area) · grc τέμενος (enclosed space) · fr enceinte (enclosed space) · fi vaalipiiri (voting district) · ru избира́тельный уча́сток (voting district) · hu rendőrőrs (police district) · fr canton (voting district) · nl districtpolitiebureau (police district) · es distrito de votación (voting district) · hu negyed (enclosed space) · ro incintă (enclosed space) · hi परिसर (enclosed space) · fi vaalialue (voting district) · uk виборчий округ (voting district) · fi poliisipiiri (police district) · de Einkaufsfußgängerzone (uncovered shopping area) · nl kiesgrensgebied (voting district) · ru о́круг (police district) · es distrito policial/policíaco/policiaco (police district) · bg избирателен участък (voting district) · ka საარჩევნო უბანი (voting district) · cs okrsek (police district) · ru террито́рия (enclosed space) · fr district (police district) · cs okrsek (voting district) · hu övezet (enclosed space) · hu körzet (enclosed space) · hi प्रांगण (enclosed space) · fr bureau (voting district) · grc περίβολος (enclosed space) · nl winkelcentrum (uncovered shopping area) · nl politiedistrict (police district) · fi piiri (police district) · uk виборча дільниця (voting district) · ru райо́н (police district) · ka ტერიტორია (enclosed space) · fr commissariat (police district) · hu terület (enclosed space) · hu választókerület (voting district) · nl kiesdistrict (voting district) · ka რაიონი (police district) · ka სავაჭრო ზონა (uncovered shopping area) · ru избира́тельный о́круг (voting district) · ka ოლქი (police district) · hu kerület (enclosed space) · bg оградено място (enclosed space) · hy ընտրատեղամաս (voting district)