pretermit

[ pree-ter-mit ]

verb (used with object)

, pre·ter·mit·ted, pre·ter·mit·ting.

1. to let pass without notice; disregard.
2. to leave undone; neglect; omit.
3. to suspend or interrupt:

   The government temporarily pretermitted its repayments of foreign aid.

pretermit

/ ˌpriːtəˈmɪt; ˌpriːtəˈmɪʃən /

verb

1. to overlook intentionally; disregard
2. to fail to do; neglect; omit

Derived Forms

• pretermission, noun
• ˌpreterˈmitter, noun

Other Words From

• pre·ter·mis·sion [pree-ter-, mish, -, uh, n], noun
• preter·mitter noun
• unpre·ter·mitted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pretermit¹

1505–15; < Latin praetermittere to let pass, equivalent to praeter- preter- + mittere to let go, send

Word History and Origins

Origin of pretermit¹

C16: from Latin praetermittere to let pass, from preter- + mittere to send, release

Example Sentences

Still the Inquisition did not entirely pretermit its labors.

From Project Gutenberg

I must, therefore, reluctantly pretermit all such matter—reserving for some other occasion the gratification of the public curiosity therein.

From Project Gutenberg

Members with a taste for writing, having some carefully thought out message to deliver on an intricate topic of foreign or domestic policy are increasingly inclined entirely to pretermit the parliamentary stage of their exposition.

From Project Gutenberg

This you must be pleased to let me have again, for I borrow it: for the other, I will pretermit no time to write it; though in good faith, I have half forgot it.

From Project Gutenberg

Meantime, under the influence of some anodyne which Pete had found in his medicine chest, Mr. Hamlin became quiet and pretermitted his vocal obligato.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• discount
• disregard
• ignore
• overlook
• reject
• spurn
• underestimate