I. ˈpast adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from past participle of passen to pass
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : ago
12 years past
b. : just gone or elapsed
for the past few months
2. : having existed or taken place in a period before the present : bygone
3. : of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of elapsed time and that in English is usually formed by internal vowel change (as in sang ) or by the addition of a suffix (as in laughed )
4. : having served as a specified officer in an organization
past president
II. preposition
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : beyond the age for or of
past playing with dolls
b. : after
half past two
2.
a. : at the farther side of : beyond
b. : in a course or direction going close to and then beyond
drove past the house
3. obsolete : more than
4. : beyond the capacity, range, or sphere of
past belief
III. noun
Date: 1520
1.
a. : time gone by
b. : something that happened or was done in the past
regret the past
2.
a. : the past tense of a language
b. : a verb form in the past tense
3. : a past life, history, or course of action ; especially : one that is kept secret
• past·less ˈpas(t)-ləs adjective
IV. adverb
Date: 1546
: so as to reach and go beyond a point near at hand
drove past