presenticadj.
/prᵻˈzɛntɪk/, U.S. /priˈzɛn(t)ɪk/, /prəˈzɛn(t)ɪk/ Linguistics.
Of an action or state: such as would be suitably expressed by the present tense. Also (of a verb form or paradigm): appropriate for referring to present actions or states.
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presenta1450
present tense1748
presentic1931
1931 O. Jespersen Mod. Eng. Grammar on Hist. Principles IV. 47 Here we shall consider some special cases that illustrate the ‘presentic’ character of the perfect.
1941 Language 17 75 In the best sagas the present invariably reproduces an action or scene vividly presentic to the imagination.
1954 S. Skendi Albanian & South Slavic Oral Epic Poetry ix. 152 In oral epic poetry of the Slavs the aspect generally used is the imperfective, because it pictures the action vividly as presentic.
1964 H. S. Sørensen in Eng. Stud. 45 (Suppl.) 81 As in the case of the incomplete perfect, grammarians have overlooked the fact that what is ‘presentic’ about the perfect is the point of reference, and nothing else.
1965 W. Winter Evidence for Laryngeals 210 In B nonpresentic forms with an /a/ suffix were found in one and the same paradigm with presentic forms with an /n/ infix and no /a/ suffix.
2003 R. J. Allan Middle Voice in Anc. Greek iv. 184 It can be assumed that the middle future has specialized to a 'presentic' meaning under the influence of the semantic opposition with the 'aoristic' passive future.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1931