past

Etymology

From Middle English, past participle of passen (“to pass, to go by”), whence Modern English pass.

noun

1. 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
   1830, Daniel Webster, a speech The past, at least, is secure.
   The present is only intelligible in the light of the past, often a very remote past indeed. 1860, Richard Chenevix Trench, On the English Language, Past and Present
   The Mesozoic landscape of southeastern Utah can tell us much about the past, and it's one of the most intriguing and beautiful landscapes on Earth. 2012, Chinle Miller, In Mesozoic Lands: The Mesozoic Geology of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Kindle edition
2. (grammar) The past tense.

adj

1. Having already happened; in the past; finished.
   past glories
   The highway to the East Coast which ran through the borough of Ebbfield had always been a main road and even now, despite the vast garages, the pylons and the gaily painted factory glasshouses which had sprung up beside it, there still remained an occasional trace of past cultures. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 7, in The China Governess
2. (postmodifier) Following expressions of time to indicate how long ago something happened; ago.
   That had been, what, three years past? 1999, George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam, published 2011, page 538
   Some four decades past, as a boy, I had a chance encounter and conversation with the late W.A. Poucher …. 2009, John Sadler, Glencoe, Amberley, published 2009, page 20
3. Of a period of time: having just gone by; previous.
   during the past year
   Sarkozy's total will be seen as a personal failure. It is the first time an outgoing president has failed to win a first-round vote in the past 50 years and makes it harder for Sarkozy to regain momentum. April 23, 2012, Angelique Chrisafis, “François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election”, in The Guardian
4. (grammar) Of a tense, expressing action that has already happened or a previously-existing state.
   past tense

adv

1. In a direction that passes.
   I watched him walk past

prep

1. Beyond in place or quantity
   the room past mine
   count past twenty
2. (time) Any number of minutes after the last hour
   What's the time? - It's now quarter past twelve midday (or 12.15pm).
   But they were stunned when Glen Johnson's error let in Peter Odemwingie to fire past Pepe Reina on 75 minutes. April 22, 2012, Sam Sheringham, “Liverpool 0-1 West Brom”, in BBC Sport
3. No longer capable of.
   I'm past caring what he thinks of me.
4. Having recovered or moved on from (a traumatic experience, etc.).
5. Passing by, especially without stopping or being delayed.
   Ignore them, we'll play past them.
   Please don't drive past the fruit stand, I want to stop there.

verb

1. (obsolete) simple past and past participle of pass
   Great Tuscane dames, as she their towns past by, / Wisht her their daughter-in-law, but frustrately. 1632, John Vicars, The XII Aeneids of Virgil