present

pronunciation

How to pronounce present in British English: UK [ˈpreznt] word uk audio image

How to pronounce present in American English: US [ˈpreznt] word us audio image

Noun:

the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
something presented as a gift
a verb tense that expresses actions or states at the time of speaking
Verb:

show or demonstrate something to an interested audience
bring forward and present to the mind
perform (a play), especially on a stage
hand over formally
introduce
give, especially as a reward
give as a present; make a gift of
deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
cause to come to know personally
represent in a painting, drawing, sculpture, or verbally
present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize
formally present a debutante, a representative of a country, etc.
recognize with a gesture prescribed by a miltary regulation; assume a prescribed position
Adjective:

temporal sense; intermediate between past and future; now existing or happening or in consideration
spatial sense; being or existing in a specified place

Word Origin

present: present: [13] The Latin adjective praesēns ‘at hand, now here’ originated as the present participle of praeesse ‘be before one’, a compound verb formed from the prefix prae- ‘in front’ and esse ‘be’. English acquired it via Old French present, the same route as was taken by its derivative praesentia on its way to English presence [14]. The use of the related noun present for ‘gift’ originated in Old French in the concept of ‘bringing something into someone’s presence’, and hence of giving it to them. The verb present [13] comes from the Latin derivative praesentāre.

present (adj.): c. 1300, "existing at the time," from Old French present "evident, at hand, within reach;" as a noun, "the present time" (11c., Modern French présent) and directly from Latin praesentem (nominative praesens) "present, at hand, in sight; immediate; prompt, instant; contemporary," from present participle of præesse "be before (someone or something), be at hand," from prae- "before" (see pre-) + esse "to be" (see essence). Meaning "being there" is from mid-14c. in English. As a grammatical tense, recorded from late 14c.

present (v.): c. 1300, "introduce (someone or something) formally or ceremonially;" also "make a formal presentation of; give as a gift or award; bestow," from Old French presenter (11c., Modern French présenter) and directly from Latin praesentare "to place before, show, exhibit," from stem of praesens (see present (adj.)). From late 14c. as "exhibit (something), offer for inspection, display;" also, in law, "make a formal complaint or charge of wrongdoing." From c. 1400 as"represent, portray." Related: Presented; presenting.

present (n.1): "this point in time" (opposed to past and future), c. 1300, "the present time," also "act or fact of being present; portion of space around someone," from Old French present (n.) from Latin praesens "being there" (see present (adj.)). In old legalese, these presents means "these documents."

present (n.2): c. 1200, "thing offered, what is offered or given as a gift," from Old French present and Medieval Latin presentia, from phrases such as French en present "(to offer) in the presence of," mettre en present "place before, give," from Late Latin inpraesent "face to face," from Latin in re praesenti "in the situation in question," from praesens "being there" (see present (adj.)), on the notion of "bringing something into someone's presence."

2. So-called sponsored tweets -- messages paid for by advertisers -- are more easily present on tiny cell phones screens .

3. A decade from now , academics may view the present as the heyday of moocs .