past
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past
- /pɑːst/ UK
- /past/ Canada, Northern England, Scotland
- /pæst/ US
Sounds like passed · Rhymes with -æst, -ɑːst
Where it comes from
From Middle English passed, past participle of passen (“to pass, to go by”), whence Modern English pass.
noun pasts
- The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future. a book about a time machine that can transport people back into the past
- The past tense.
Similar: yestertide
adjective more past · most past
- Having already happened; in the past; finished. past glories
- Following expressions of time to indicate how long ago something happened; ago. That had been, what, three years past?
- Of a period of time: having just gone by; previous. during the past year
- Of a tense, expressing action that has already happened or a previously-existing state. past tense
Similar: foregone, preceding, used-to-be, backward, forepassed, forepast, historic, historical, hoary, long ago, olden, past
adverb more past · most past
- In a direction that passes. I watched him walk past.
preposition
- Beyond in place or quantity. the room past mine
- Any number of minutes after the last hour. What's the time? - It's now quarter past twelve midday (or 12.15pm) -O,K., we'll stop at half (past) twelve
- No longer capable of. I'm past caring what he thinks of me.
- Having recovered or moved on from (a traumatic experience, etc.).
- Passing by, especially without stopping or being delayed. Ignore them, we'll play past them.
verb
- simple past and past participle of pass Great Tuscane dames, as she their towns past by, / Wisht her their daughter-in-law, but frustrately.
