The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Preside \Pre*side"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Presided; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Presiding.] [L. praesidere; prae before + sedere to
   sit: cf. F. pr['e]sider. See Sit.]
   1. To be set, or to sit, in the place of authority; to occupy
      the place of president, chairman, moderator, director,
      etc.; to direct, control, and regulate, as chief officer;
      as, to preside at a public meeting; to preside over the
      senate.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To exercise superintendence; to watch over.
      [1913 Webster]

            Some o'er the public magazines preside. --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

preside
    v 1: act as president; "preside over companies and corporations"

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

42 Moby Thesaurus words for "preside":
   administer, administer justice, administrate, be master, captain,
   carry on, chair, chairman, command, conduct, control, direct,
   discipline, do the honors, entertain, entertain guests,
   give a party, govern, guest, handle, head, head up, host, judge,
   keep, lead, manage, occupy the chair, officer, officiate, operate,
   ordain, oversee, preside over, regulate, rule, run,
   sit in judgment, stand over, supervise, throw a party,
   wield authority



The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

PRESIDE, v.  To guide the action of a deliberative body to a desirable
result.  In Journalese, to perform upon a musical instrument; as, "He
presided at the piccolo."

    The Headliner, holding the copy in hand,
        Read with a solemn face:
    "The music was very uncommonly grand --
            The best that was every provided,
            For our townsman Brown presided
        At the organ with skill and grace."
    The Headliner discontinued to read,
        And, spread the paper down
    On the desk, he dashed in at the top of the screed:
        "Great playing by President Brown."
                                                         Orpheus Bowen