n.
Variant: or pret · er · ite
Pronunciation: ' pre-t ə -r ə t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English preterit, from Anglo-French, from Latin praeteritus, from past participle of praeterire to go by, passive, from praeter beyond, past, by (fr. comparative of prae before) + ire to go ― more at FOR , ISSUE
Date: 14th century
archaic : BYGONE , FORMER