{"era":"current","word":"prefect","meaning":"an official placed in charge of a district, department, or group","children":[{"era":"1200s","word":"prefect","meaning":"an official in authority","children":[{"era":"classical","word":"praefectus","meaning":"one appointed in charge","children":[{"era":"classical","word":"praeficere","meaning":"to place in front; appoint in charge","children":[{"era":"classical","word":"prae-","meaning":"before, in front","children":[],"language":"Latin"},{"era":"classical","word":"facere","meaning":"to do, make","children":[{"era":"prehistory","word":"*dheh1-","meaning":"to put, place, do","children":[],"language":"Proto-Indo-European"}],"language":"Latin"}],"language":"Latin"}],"language":"Latin"}],"language":"Middle English"}],"language":"Modern English"}