English
past
Past comes from Middle English passed, past participle of passen ‘to pass, to go by’.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500passen‘to pass, to go by’
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500passed
- Englishearliest quotation 1632past
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500passen‘to pass, to go by’
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500passed
- Englishearliest quotation 1632past
Earliest quotation: 1632, John Vicars: “Great Tuscane dames, as she their towns past by,…”
Every English word from Middle English passen
Today it means
noun The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English passen / past