Lexical Definition

‎προΐστημι‎ proḯstēmi (pro-is'-tay-mee) to set before ^G:V
from ‎πρό‎ and ‎ἵστημι‎

maintain, be over, rule.

• to stand before, i.e. (in rank) to preside, or (by implication) to practise

Abbott-Smith

προ-ΐστημι, [in LXX: II Ki 13:17, Pr 23:5 26:17, Is 43:24, Am 6:10 (no proper Heb. equiv.), Da LXX Bel 7, I Mac 5:19, IV Mac 11:27*;]
1. trans. in fut., 1 aor., and mid. 1 aor., to put before, set over (Plat., al.).
2. Intrans., in pf., plpf., 2 aor. and mid. pres. and impf.;
(a) to preside, rule, govern: Ro 12:8, I Ti 5:17; c. gen., I Th 5:12, I Ti 3:4, 5, 12;
(b) to direct, maintain: c. gen. rei, καλῶν ἔργων, Tit 3:8, 14 (on R, mg., profess honest occupations, v. CGT, in l.; Field, Notes, 223 f.).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

προΐστημι,

future -στήσω: aorist 1 προὔστησα, participle προστήσας, infinitive προστῆσαι. Causal in these tenses, as also in present and aorist 1 middle, set before, once in [Refs 8th c.BC+] put his body in the way, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__2 set over, ὃν ἡ πόλις ἀξιοῖ αὑτῆς προϊστάναι, variant for{-εστάναι}, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__3 exhibit publicly, prostitute, π. ἐπ᾽ οἰκημάτων [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II middle, mostly aorist 1, put another before oneself, choose as one's leader, [Refs 5th c.BC+]take as one's guardian, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 put before one, put in front, σκίπωνα προστήσασθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν χεῖρα, so as to shade the eyes, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.3 metaphorically, put forward as an excuse or pretence, use as a screen, τί τάδε προὐστήσω λόγ; [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.4 προστησώμεθα Τύρταιον put him forward, cite him as an authority, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.5 prefer, value above, ὦτα τοῦ νοῦ προστησάμενοι [Refs]
__II.6 establish a thing before another, τοὺς ἀριθμοὺς τῆς ὑποστάσεως αὐτῶν (i.e. τῶν ὄντων) [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__II.7 manifest, [Refs]
__B passive, with aorist 2 active προὔστην: perfect προέστηκα, 2nd pers. plural προέστατε [Refs 5th c.BC+]; infinitive προεστάναι, participle προεστώς (see. below): future perfect προεστήξομαι, see below [Refs]:—aorist passive προεστάθην, see below[Refs]:—come forward, variant for{προσ-} in [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__B.2 c.accusative, approach as a suppliant, ἥ σε.. λιπαρεῖ προὔστην χερί [Refs 5th c.BC+]; προστῆναι μέσην τράπεζαν uncertain in [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.3 with dative, stand so as to face another, σοὶ γὰρ αἴας πολέμιος προὔστη ποτέ [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.4 stand in public, be a prostitute, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__B.II with genitive, to be set over, be at the head of, τῆς Ἑλλάδος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially to be chief or leader of a party, τῶν παράλων, τῶν ἐκ τοῦ πεδίου, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. αὐτῶν to be their ringleader, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. χοροῦ, στρατεύματος, [Refs]; π. τῶν πολιτειῶν head the respective parties in the state, [Refs 5th c.BC+] absolutely, οἱ προεστῶτες, _Ionic dialect_ -εῶτες, the leading men, τῶν σκυθέων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσι προστάντες [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.2 in various relations, govern, direct, οὐκ ὀρθῶς σεωυτοῦ προέστηκας you do not manage yourself well, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐργασίας, τέχνης, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__B.II.3 stand before so as to guard, οἱ δορυφόροι Μασίστεω προέστησαν [Refs 5th c.BC+]: hence, support, succour, πρόστητ᾽ ἀναγκαίας τύχης [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ προστὰς τῆς εἰρήνης the champion of peace, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; πάντων προστᾶσα [δύναμις] [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τινός to be his protector, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; τῆς ἐναντίας π. γνώμης [Refs 2nd c.BC+]were the authors of.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. [νόσου] [Refs 5th c.BC+]