I.to determine, fix, or appoint beforehand, to prescribe (class.; a favorite word with Cic.; “syn.: praestituo, praescribo): praefinire non est meum,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 8, 21: “aliquid restricte,” id. Leg. 2, 18, 45: “praefinit successori diem,” id. Prov. Cons. 15, 37: “ad certum praefinitumque tempus,” Suet. Galb. 14 fin.; and: “dies certus praefinitus,” Gell. 1, 25, 16: “sumptum funerum,” Cic. Leg. 2, 27, 68: “neque de illo quicquam tibi praefinio, quo minus, etc.,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 68, § 174: “praefinisti, quo ne, etc.,” id. Fam. 7, 2, 1.—Absol.: nec res praefiniet ipsa, limit, set bounds, * Lucr. 1, 618.—Hence, * praefīnītō , adv., in the prescribed manner: “praefinito loqui,” Ter. Hec. 1, 2, 19.
prae-fīnĭo , īvi and ĭi, ītum, 4, v. a.,