Lewis & Short

prae-mitto, mīsi, missum, 3, v. a., to send forward or before, to despatch in advance.

  1. I. Lit. (class.): a portu me praemisisti domum, Plaut. Am. 2, 1, 55: nuntium, id. Truc. 2, 4, 58: legiones in Hispaniam, Caes. B. C. 1, 39: legatum ad flumen, Sall. J. 52, 5: petebant uti ad eos equites praemitteret, sc. nuntios, Caes. B. G. 4, 11; 7, 10, 3; id. B. C. 2, 20, 6: edictum, id. ib. 2, 19, 1; Liv. 35, 24, 3; Tac. H. 2, 63: odiosas litteras, Cic. Att. 10, 8, 8: hunc Acheruntem praemittam prius, Plaut. Cas. 2, 8, 12.
    1. B. Transf., in gen., to set before or in front: ficetis caprificus praemittitur, Plin. 15, 19, 21, § 80 (dub.; al. permittitur).
  2. II. Trop., to send out in advance (post-Aug.): cervicem gladio caesim graviter percussit, praemissā voce: Hoc age, saying first, Suet. Calig. 58: postquam haec favorabili oratione praemisit, Tac. Am. 12, 6: cogitationes in longinqua praemittimus, send our thoughts into the distance, Sen. Ep. 5, 7.
    Hence, praemissa, ōrum, n., things sent in advance, the first-fruits, = primitiae (postAug.), Plin. 12, 1, 2, § 5.