Definition of PRETERITE

preterite

Meanings

Plural: preterites

Noun

  • a term formerly used to refer to the simple past tense
  • A grammatical tense or verb form serving to denote events that took place or were completed in the past.

Adj

  • Showing an action at a determined moment in the past.
  • Belonging wholly to the past; passed by.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English preterit, from Old French preterit (13th century), from Latin praeteritum (as in tempus praeteritum (“time past”)), the past participle of praetereō (“I go by, go past”), itself from praeter (“beyond, before, above, more than”) (comparative of prae (“before”)) + itum (the past participle of eō (“I go”)).

Scrabble Score: 11

preterite is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
preterite is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
preterite is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

preterite is a valid Words With Friends word