To preside is to be the person in charge of a formal event, meeting, court, or organisation. You sit at the front, you keep order, and you have the last word on how the occasion runs.

To preside主持 is就是 to be the person in charge當那個負責的人 of a formal event, meeting, court, or organisation在正式的活動、會議、法庭，或組織裡。You你 sit at the front坐在前面, you你 keep order維持秩序, and而且 you你 have the last word對這個場合怎麼進行有最後的決定權 on how the occasion runs。

A judge presides over a trial; a chairperson presides over a meeting; someone may preside at a ceremony. You almost always preside over something — that little over matters.

A judge法官 presides over a trial主持審判; a chairperson主席 presides over a meeting主持會議; someone有人 may preside at a ceremony可能在典禮上主持。You你 almost always preside over something幾乎都是 preside over 什麼 — that little over matters那個小小的 over 很重要。

It is a formal verb. You would not say you preside over dinner with friends.

It它 is a formal verb是個正式的動詞。You你 would not say不會說 you preside over dinner with friends你 preside over 跟朋友的晚餐。

Though actually, newspapers stretch it: a leader “presides over” a country meaning they are in charge during that time, even when they are not sitting in a meeting. And you do not have to be a president to preside.

Though actually不過其實, newspapers報紙 stretch it會把它引申來用: a leader一位領袖 "presides over" a country「presides over」一個國家 meaning意思是 they are in charge during that time在那段期間他是掌權的人, even when就算 they are not sitting in a meeting他當時並沒有坐在會議室裡。And而且 you你 do not have to be a president不需要是總統 to preside才能主持。

The words are cousins — both come from Latin for sitting in front — but the job title and the verb are not the same thing. English once had foresittan for this idea; preside came in from French and Latin and took its place.

The words這兩個字 are cousins是表親關係 — both come from Latin for sitting in front都源自拉丁文「坐在前面」的意思 — but不過 the job title and the verb職稱和動詞 are not the same thing不是同一回事。English英文 once had曾經有 foresittan for this idea「foresittan」這個字來表達這個概念; preside「preside」 came in from French and Latin後來從法文和拉丁文傳進來 and took its place取代了它的位置。