these presents

noun

This document (formerly used in official documents and decrees; now mainly confined to university diplomas).

OriginLatin hae presentes [litterae] →
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Meanings

nounthese presents pl (plural only)
  1. archaicpluralplural onlyThis document (formerly used in official documents and decrees; now mainly confined to university diplomas).

    To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of the States affixed to our Names send greeting.

    1781, Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union
    1 more example

    However, at the request of the selectmen, I condescended to make some such statement as this in writing:—"Know all men by these presents, that I, Henry Thoreau, do not wish to be regarded as a member of any incorporated society which I have not joined."

    1849, Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience

Origin

  1. Latinhae presentes [litterae]
  2. Englishthese presents

Calque of Latin hae presentes [litterae], literally "these present [letters]" but idiomatically "this present [document]."

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

these presents. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/these%20presents

MLA

“these presents.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/these%20presents. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “these presents,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/these%20presents.

Source: these presents on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.