προΐστημι fut. -στήσω aor1 προὔστησα part. προστήσας inf. προστῆσαι Causal in these tenses, as also in pres. and aor1 mid., to set before or in front, προστήσας σε Τρωσὶ μάχεσθαι Il. to set over others, c. gen., Plat. Mid., mostly in aor1, to put another before oneself, choose as oneʼs leader, Hdt.: c. gen., προΐστασθαι τουτονὶ ἑαυτοῦ to take as oneʼs leader, Plat. to put before one, put in front, Hdt., etc. metaph. to put forward as a pretence, use as a screen, τὰ τῶν Ἀμφικτυόνων δόγματα προστήσασθαι Dem.; c. gen. to use one thing as a pretext for another, Dem. to prefer, value one above another, τινά τινος Plat. Pass., with aor2 act. προὔστην: perf. προέστηκα, Ionic 2nd pl. προέστατε, inf. προεστάναι, part. προεστώς: aor1 pass. προεστάθην:—3 to put oneself forward, come forward, Dem. c. acc. to approach, Soph. c. dat. to stand before or face another, Soph. c. gen. to be set over, be the chief power, τῆς Ἑλλάδος, τῶν Ἀρκάδων Hdt.:— to be at the head of a party, act as chief or leader, τῶν παράλων, τῶν ἐκ τοῦ πεδίου Hdt.; τοῦ δήμου Thuc.: hence absol., οἱ προεστῶτες, Ionic -εῶτες, the leading men, chiefs, leaders, Hdt., Thuc., etc. in various relations, to govern, direct, manage, οὐκ ὀρθῶς σεωυτοῦ προέστηκας you do not manage yourself well, Hdt.; πρ. τοῦ ἑαυτοῦ βίου Xen. to stand before so as to guard him, Hdt.; πρόστητε τύχης be our defence against fortune, Soph.; ὁ προστὰς τῆς εἰρήνης the champion of peace, Aeschin.;—also, προὐστήτην φόνου were the authors of death, Soph.:—absol., βέλεα ἀρωγὰ προσταθέντα Soph.