preterite

/ ˈprɛtərɪt /

noun

1. a tense of verbs used to relate past action, formed in English by inflection of the verb, as jumped, swam
2. a verb in this tense

adjective

1. denoting this tense

Word History and Origins

Origin of preterite¹

C14: from Late Latin praeteritum ( tempus ) past (time, tense), from Latin praeterīre to go by, from preter- + īre to go

Example Sentences

The present tense too is far more pleasant and less monotonous than the preterite.

From Project Gutenberg

And what are we preterite souls left to do but open our browsers each morning with that sickly tinge of disaster anticipation we've become habituated to since Sept.

From Salon

In the case of certain Greek verbs, the preterite in form is invariably present in signification.

From Project Gutenberg

The boys of the different schools vie with each other in verses; or dispute; or dispute on the principles of grammar, or the rules of preterites and supines.”

From Project Gutenberg

Its inflections are -as present, -is preterite, -os future, -us conditional, -u imperative and subjunctive, -i infinitive, together with the following participles:—   Active.

From Project Gutenberg