Preterit

pret·er·ite or pret·er·it  (prtr-t)

adj.

Of, relating to, or being the verb tense that describes a past action or state.

n.

1. The verb form expressing or describing a past action or condition.

2. A verb in the preterite form.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin (tempus) praeteritum, past (tense), neuter past participle of praeterre, to go by : praeter, beyond, comparative of prae, before; see per¹ in Indo-European roots + re, to go; see ei- in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

preterit - a term formerly used to refer to the simple past tense preterite past tense, past - a verb tense that expresses actions or states in the past