'Preterite' definitions:
Definition of 'preterite'
From: WordNet
noun
A term formerly used to refer to the simple past tense [syn: preterit, preterite]
Definition of 'Preterite'
From: GCIDE
- Preterite \Pret"er*ite\, a. & n. Same as Preterit. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'preterite'
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]