present

present · adjective, noun¹

1. Latin · derived fromprae-“pre-”
2. Latin · derived frompraesent-, praesens
3. Old French · derived frompresent
4. Middle English · inherited frompresent
5. English todaypresent

From Middle English present, from Old French present, from Latin praesent-, praesens, present participle of praeesse (“to be present”), from Latin prae- (“pre-”) + esse (“to be”). Displaced Old English andweard (“present, current”).

present · noun, verb²

1. Latin · derived frompraesentāre“to show”
2. Old French · derived frompresenter
3. Middle English · inherited frompresenten
4. English todaypresent

From Middle English presenten, from Old French presenter, from Latin praesentāre (“to show”), from praesent-, praesens, present participle of praeesse (“be in front of”).

present · verb³

1. Proto-Indo-European*per-
2. Proto-Indo-European*preh₂-
3. Proto-Indo-European*préh₂i?
4. Proto-Italic*prai
5. Proto-Italic*prai-
6. Latinprae-
7. Middle Englishpre-
8. Englishpre-
9. Englishsend
10. Englishpresend
11. English todaypresent

From presend + -t.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 16th–18th c. Having an immediate effect (of a medicine, poison etc.); fast-acting.
• from 14th c. To bring (someone) into the presence of (a person); to introduce formally.
• from 14th c. To nominate (a member of the clergy) for an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
• from 14th c. To offer (a problem, complaint) to a court or other authority for consideration.
• from 14th c. To charge (a person) with a crime or accusation; to bring before court.
• from 14th c. To come forward, appear in a particular place or before a particular person, especially formally.
• from 14th c. To put (something) forward in order for it to be seen; to show, exhibit.
• from 14th c. To make clear to one's mind or intelligence; to put forward for consideration.