pɑ:st adj., n.,
prep., & adv. --adj. 1
gone by in
time and no longer existing (in past years;
the time is past). 2 recently completed or gone by (the past
month;
for some time past). 3 relating to a former time (past president). 4 Gram. expressing a past
action or
state. --n. 1 (prec. by the) a past time. b
what has happened in past time (cannot
undo the past). 2 a person's past
life or
career,
esp. if
discreditable (a
man with a past). 3 a past tense or
form. --prep. 1
beyond in time or
place (is past
two o'clock;
ran past the house). 2 beyond the
range,
duration, or
compass of (past
belief; past endurance). --adv. so as to pass by (hurried past). ønot put it past a
person believe it
possible of a person. past it colloq.
incompetent or
unusable through age. past
master 1 a person
who is
especially adept or
expert in an
activity,
subject, etc. 2 a person who has
been a master in a
guild, Freemason's
lodge, etc. past
perfect =
PLUPERFECT. [past
part. of
PASS(1) v.]
