PAST • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Past

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adjective

Past adj. Of or pertaining to a former time or state; neither present nor future; gone by; elapsed; ended; spent; as, past troubles; past offences. "Past ages."

Past master. See under Master.

noun

Past n. A former time or state; a state of things gone by. "The past, at least, is secure." "The present is only intelligible in the light of the past, often a very remote past indeed."

preposition

Past prep.

Beyond, in position, or degree; further than; beyond the reach or influence of. "Who being past feeling." "Galled past endurance." "Until we be past thy borders." "Love, when once past government, is consequently past shame."

Beyond, in time; after; as, past the hour. "Is it not past two o'clock?"

Above; exceeding; more than. (R.) "Not past three quarters of a mile." "Bows not past three quarters of a yard long."

adverb

Past adv. By; beyond; as, he ran past. "The alarum of drums swept past."

See images of 'Past'

Etymology of 'Past'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Past" Quotes from Famous Books

... they explored, and, no doubt, shall find that little has changed in the manners of the people during these last thirty years. Neither in the Desert nor in the kingdoms of Central Africa is there any march of civilisation. All goes on according to a certain routine established for ages past. ...

— Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 1 • James Richardson

... bosom, exclaiming, "Oh, beloved Nisida, how beautiful dost thou appear to me!—how soft and charming is that dear voice of thine! Let us not think of the past, at least not now; for I also have explanations to give thee," he added, slowly and mournfully; then, in a different and again joyous tone, he said: "Let us be happy in the conviction that we are restored to ...

— Wagner, the Wehr-Wolf • George W. M. Reynolds

... inheritance on coming of age. It was settled, as you know, that I was to go out into the world, and to judge for myself; but the date of my departure was not fixed. Two days later, the storm that had been gathering for weeks past burst on us—we were cited to appear before the council to answer for an infraction of the Rules. Everything that I have confessed to you, and some things besides that I have kept to myself, lay formally inscribed on a sheet of paper placed on the council ...

— The Fallen Leaves • Wilkie Collins

... steady hand. "But they'll come from some place. Now, I've got to think up stories to make Lovey forget that he wants anything but some corn-bread and buttermilk for supper. That'll save the batter-cake flour for the pie-crust and some of the lard and butter too. If I can amuse him past breakfast with just corn meal mush, I'll have enough flour for them all. Uncle Pompey has lots of spice and things, so it'll only be the apples. Maybe ...

— Phyllis • Maria Thompson Daviess

... one short letter, telling your mother he would come home as soon as he had made his fortune; and he resolved in his own mind not to do so until he had accomplished this, for only in this way he thought he could atone for the past and prove that he was worthy of her confidence for ...

— That Scholarship Boy • Emma Leslie

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