present \pres"ent\, n. cf. f. pr'esent. see present, a.
   1. present time; the time being; time in progress now, or at
      the moment contemplated; as, at this present.
      1913 webster

            past and present, wound in one.       --tennyson.
      1913 webster

   2. pl. law present letters or instrument, as a deed of
      conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney, or other writing;
      as in the phrase, " know all men by these presents," that
      is, by the writing itself, " per has literas praesentes; "
      -- in this sense, rarely used in the singular.
      1913 webster

   3. gram. a present tense, or the form of the verb denoting
      the present tense.
      1913 webster

   at present, at the present time; now.

   for the present, for the tine being; temporarily.

   in present, at once, without delay. obs. "with them, in
      present, half his kingdom; the rest to follow at his
      death." --milton.
      1913 webster
see also:
present at present for the present in present 

at present
     adv : at the present moment; "goods now on sale"; "the now-aging
           dictator"; "they are now abroad"; "he is busy at
           present writing a new novel"; "it could happen any time
           now" syn: now
see also:
now