præterite

A form of preterite — Showing an action at a determined moment in the past.

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Meanings

adjectivepræterite (not comparable)
  1. not comparableobsoleteObsolete form of preterite.

    Prof. Stuart argues from the expression, “ I—was king,” &c, that Solomon was not the writer, because he thinks the præterite tense implies that he had ceased to be king; and Solomon continued to be king while he lived.

    1865, Loyal Young, A Commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes, Presbyterian Board of Publication, page 56
Cite this entry
APA

præterite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pr%C3%A6terite

MLA

“præterite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pr%C3%A6terite. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “præterite,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pr%C3%A6terite.

Source: præterite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.