Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - president

 noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praesident-, praesidens, from present participle of praesidere  Date: 14th century  1. an official chosen to preside over a meeting or assembly  2. an appointed governor of a subordinate political unit  3. the chief officer of an organization (as a corporation or institution) usually entrusted with the direction and administration of its policies  4. the presiding officer of a governmental body  5.  a. an elected official serving as both chief of state and chief political executive in a republic having a ~ial government  b. an elected official having the position of chief of state but usually only minimal political powers in a republic having a parliamentary government  • ~ial adjective  • ~ially adverb  • ~ship noun