'praeterite' definitions:

Definition of 'praeterite'

From: GCIDE
  • Preterit \Pret"er*it\ (?; 277), a. [L. praeteritus, p. p. of praeterire to go or pass by; praeter beyond, by + ire to go: cf. F. pr['e]t['e]rit. See Issue.] [Written also preterite and pr[ae]terite.]
  • 1. (Gram.) Past; -- applied to a tense which expresses an action or state as past. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Belonging wholly to the past; passed by. [R.] [1913 Webster]
  • Things and persons as thoroughly preterite as Romulus or Numa. --Lowell. [1913 Webster]