Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

preception

noun
Save Word
pre·​cep·​tion | \ prēˈsepshən, prə̇s- \
plural -s

Definition of preception

Roman law
: the taking before general distribution of an estate of something as a legacy under an option to select granted by the will to the legatee

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for preception

Latin praeception-, praeceptio, from praeceptus (past participle of praecipere to take beforehand) + -ion-, -io -ion

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about preception

Statistics for preception

Cite this Entry

“Preception.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preception. Accessed 18 January 2020.

Comments on preception

What made you want to look up preception? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

vicarious

Listen to the pronounciation of vicarious

experienced by way of someone else

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

  • rubens painting
  • Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games