the impression that something is present; "he felt the presence of an evil force"
the immediate proximity of someone or something; "she blushed in his presence"; "he sensed the presence of danger"; "he was well behaved in front of company"
an invisible spiritual being felt to be nearby
the state of being present; current existence; "he tested for the presence of radon"
(pharmacology) a book containing a compilation of pharmaceutical products with their formulas and methods of preparation; "postexposure prophylaxis is an integral part of the pharmacopeia in preventing severe disease after acute infections"
the immature free-living form of most invertebrates and amphibians and fish which at hatching from the egg is fundamentally unlike its parent and must metamorphose
the act of starting a new operation or practice; "he opposed the inauguration of fluoridation"; "the startup of the new factory was delayed by strikes"
the ceremonial induction into a position; "the new president obviously enjoyed his inauguration"
the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new; "she looked forward to her initiation as an adult"; "the foundation of a new scientific society"; "he regards the fork as a modern introduction"
a formal entry into an organization or position or office; "his initiation into the club"; "he was ordered to report for induction into the army"; "he gave a speech as part of his installation into the hall of fame"
indistinctness of shape or character; "the scene had the swirling vagueness of a painting by Turner"
unclearness by virtue of being poorly expressed or not coherent in meaning; "the Conservative manifesto is a model of vagueness"; "these terms were used with a vagueness that suggested little or no thought about what each might convey"
delivered at the moment of parting as if in flight or retreat; "paused to deliver a parting shot at the door"; "a Parthian volley of expletives from Uncle Billy"- Bret Harte
a body of people sharing some common interest; "the reading public"
affecting the people or community as a whole; "community leaders"; "community interests"; "the public welfare"
not private; open to or concerning the people as a whole; "the public good"; "public libraries"; "public funds"; "public parks"; "a public scandal"; "public gardens"; "performers and members of royal families are public figures"
(obsolete) a combination of elements (of dryness and warmth or of the four humors) that was once believed to determine a person's health and temperament
texture and appearance of the skin of the face
the coloring of a person's face
a point of view or general attitude or inclination; "he altered the complexion of his times"; "a liberal political complexion"
a combination that results from coupling or interlinking; "diphthongs are complexions of vowels"
give a certain color to; "The setting sun complexioned the hills"
something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; "training is a necessary preliminary to employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner"
a minor match preceding the main event
designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding; "a preliminary investigation"