Английский Этимологический словарь - present (adj.)

- c.1303, from O.Fr. present, from L. prжsentem (nom. prжsens) "present, immediate, prompt," from prp. of prжesse "be before (someone or something), be at hand," from prж- "before" + esse "to be." Presently is c.1380 as "immediately," but by 1566 it had relaxed into "sooner or later."