precinct
Meanings
Plural: precincts
Noun
- a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes
- An enclosed space having defined limits, normally marked by walls.
- The general area surrounding a place, environs.
- A pedestrianized and uncovered shopping area.
- A subdivision of a city under the jurisdiction of a specific group of police; the police station situated in that district.
- A subdivision of a city or other locality for the purposes of voting and representation in local government. In cities, precincts may be grouped into wards.
- A district over which someone or some body of people has control in general; province, sphere of control.
- A surrounding boundary or limit.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English precinct, precincte, early 15th century, in sense of “district for government purposes”, from Medieval Latin precinctum, alternative form of praecinctum (“enclosure, boundary line”), neuter singular of praecinctus, perfect passive participle of Latin praecingō (“surround, gird”), from prae (“before”) + cingō (“surround, encircle”), from which also cinch.
Cognate to Italian precingere (“to encircle”).
Scrabble Score: 14
precinct is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL wordprecinct is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
precinct is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 18
precinct is a valid Words With Friends word