past

The story

1. Middle English · derived frompassen“to pass, to go by”
2. Middle English · inherited frompassed
3. English todaypast

From Middle English passed, past participle of Middle English passen (“to pass, to go by”), whence Modern English pass.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. Having already happened; in the past; finished.
• from 15th c. Following expressions of time to indicate how long ago something happened; ago.
• from 15th c. Of a period of time: having just gone by; previous. foregone, #
• from 18th c. Of a tense, expressing action that has already happened or a previously-existing state.