I. adjective
or pret·er·ite ˈpred.ərə̇t, -etə-, usu -ə̇d.+V
Etymology: Middle English preterit, from Middle French, from Latin praeteritus, past participle of praeterire to go by, pass over, from praeter past, by, beyond + ire to go — more at issue
1. archaic : belonging wholly to the past : bygone , former
2. : of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that indicates action in the past without implication as to duration, continuance, or repetition
• pret·er·it·ness or preteriteness noun -es
II. noun
or preterite “
( -s )
1. : the preterit tense of a language
2. : a verb form in the preterit tense