preterit Hear it!

preterit definition

pret·erit or preterite pret′·er·ite (pret′ər it)

adjective

  1. Gram. expressing past action or state
  2. Rare former

Etymology: ME preterit < MFr < L praeteritus, gone by, pp. of praeterire < praeter- (see preter-) + ire, to go: see year

noun

  1. the past tense
  2. a verb in the past tense

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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