preta

[ prey-tuh ]

noun

, Hindu Mythology.

1. a wandering or disturbed ghost.

Word History and Origins

Origin of preta¹

First recorded in 1810–15; from Sanskrit: literally, “gone forth, gone before, dead,” equivalent to prefix pra- “forth” + participle ita- “gone”

Example Sentences

Hunter and Preta were separated from him on Tuesday, as they boarded different boats during a rescue operation.

From Seattle Times

In the Amazon, ancient people intentionally boosted soils with charcoal, creating terra preta, or “dark earth” areas that remain nutrient-rich today.

From Science Magazine

Leo's mother Preta says on the surface the work was really appealing for a teenager.

From BBC

Researchers have long thought this Amazonian dark earth—or terra preta—was created by pre-Hispanic Indigenous civilizations, which have inhabited the region for millennia, but it wasn’t clear how.

From Science Magazine

Now, a multidisciplinary team of scientists and Indigenous partners suggests the ancient Amazonians intentionally created the rich soil thousands of years ago to better foster their crops, and that their modern-day descendants are still making new terra preta today.

From Science Magazine