Preen

Pronunciation: /priːn/

Definitions of preen

verb to groom oneself carefully or pridefully; to clean or tidy oneself

Example Sentences

A1 The bird preens its feathers to keep them clean and neat.

A2 She preened in front of the mirror before going out on her date.

B1 The cat preened itself after grooming.

B2 The actor preened on the red carpet, posing for the cameras.

C1 The politician preened himself in front of the media, trying to appear confident and in control.

C2 The model preened backstage before the fashion show, making sure every detail was perfect.

Examples of preen in a Sentence

formal The peacock preened its feathers before the mating ritual.

informal She preened in front of the mirror before the party.

slang He preened his hair before heading out to meet his friends.

figurative The politician preened his image in front of the cameras.

Grammatical Forms of preen

• past tense: preened
• plural: preens
• comparative: more preen
• superlative: most preen
• present tense: preen
• future tense: will preen
• perfect tense: have preened
• continuous tense: is preening
• singular: preen
• positive degree: preen
• infinitive: to preen
• gerund: preening
• participle: preened

Origin and Evolution of preen

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'preen' originated from the Middle English word 'prenen' which came from the Old French word 'pourpreindre' meaning to trim feathers or preen oneself.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'preen' has evolved to not only refer to birds grooming themselves, but also to describe someone who is excessively concerned with their appearance or grooming habits.