Etymology: Probably partly < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French present (French présent ) presence (early 13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), thing which or person who is present (c1225 in Old French), (in grammar) present tense (c1245), present time, period of time now occurring (a1278), (in plural, in law) present document or writing (1335), use as noun of present present adj., and partly < present adj.In in present in senses 1 and 2a after Anglo-Norman and Old French en present in the presence (c1100 in Anglo-Norman; compare also Old French mettre en present to present, offer (c1100)), itself after post-classical Latin in praesenti or praesente (5th cent. in Augustine); compare classical Latin in rē praesentī on the spot, in rem praesentem into the place itself, to the very spot. In sense 2b perhaps arising through misapprehension of presence n. as a plural form of this word. With sense 3a compare classical Latin praesēns person who is present, praesentia present events, present circumstances, uses as noun of masculine singular and neuter plural respectively of praesēns present adj. With sense 3b compare post-classical Latin praesentia , neuter plural (6th cent.), praesentes , feminine plural (7th cent., c1280, 14th cent. in British sources) the present letter or document. With sense 4c compare classical Latin praesēns present tense (short for classical Latin tempus praesēns : see present tense n. and adj.) in early use in an English context:OE Ælfric Gram. (St. John's Oxf.) 205 Sume word habbað gelice praesens, þæt is andweard, and praeteritvm: odi ic hatige and odi ic hatede. In in present at Phrases 1 after Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French en present immediately (a1100) and post-classical Latin in praesenti immediately (6th cent.). With at (the) present at Phrases 3a compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French à présent (c1150). In of present at Phrases 2 probably after Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French de présent immediately (c1245), now (c1370) and post-classical Latin de praesenti at once (6th cent.), at present (c1344, c1520 in British sources). With for the present at Phrases 4b compare Middle French, French pour le présent for the time being, now (1395), post-classical Latin pro presenti (c1380, c1446 in British sources). In Middle English apparently usually stressed on the second syllable.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman present, presaunt and Old French, Middle French present (French présent ) donation, gift (c1140 in Old French) < presenter present v. Compare post-classical Latin presentum (1086, c1336, 1350 in British sources), presentia (from late 12th cent. in British sources), Old Occitan prezen (first half of the 12th cent.; Occitan present), Catalan present (13th cent.), Spanish presente (1207 as presend), Italian presente (early 13th cent.).

Etymology: < present v.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman present, presant and Middle French present (French présent ) that is found in a particular (specified or implied) place or group (1130), existing or occurring now (late 12th cent.), that is currently in hand (early 13th cent.), existing in or belonging to the particular time under consideration (c1230) and its etymon classical Latin praesent-, praesēns being in the same place, present, present to the mind or senses, resolute, prompt, present in a helpful manner, ready with assistance, (of money) paid at once in cash, existing, occurring now, actual, contemporary, (in grammar) expressing present time, immediate, instant, (of remedies) effective < prae- pre- prefix + present participle of esse to be (compare absēns absent adj.; distinct from praeesse to be in charge). Compare Old Occitan presen, present (1145; Occitan present), Catalan present (1244), Spanish presente (1202), Portuguese presente (13th cent.), Italian presente (1253).The following senses of the French word parallel English senses but are apparently first attested later: (of a remedy or poison) taking immediate effect (1543; compare sense A. 9b), (in grammar) expressing present time (1550; compare sense A. 7), being in the mind or consciousness (1552; compare sense A. 3), (of a person) attentive (1651; compare sense A. 4). The stress apparently varied between the first and second syllables in Middle English. With the form persaunt compare discussion at pre- prefix.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French presenter (French présenter ) to bring or place (a person) before or into the presence of, to introduce (c888 in Old French), to put before the eyes of someone, to exhibit (c1050), to appear before someone (c1100), to bring or place (a thing) before or into the hands of a person for acceptance (c1100), to submit (a thing) to someone for examination or to be judged (c1170), to set forth, describe (1188), to make clear to the mind (c1200), to express, make a statement of (c1220), to appear in court (1283), to lay a charge against (c1300 or earlier), to offer, initiate (1460 in présenter battaile ), to steer, turn, direct (1538), to put on or bring (a play or other form of entertainment) before the public (1561) and its etymon classical Latin praesentāre to exhibit, present (to the mind or senses), in post-classical Latin also (in legal use) to bring before a court, to make presentment (4th cent.; frequently from 12th cent. in British sources), to represent (5th cent.), to present to a person as a gift (8th cent.), to present to a benefice (frequently c1185–1549 in British sources), to present for approval (13th cent. in a British source), to put forward for examination (13th cent.), to put forward for a degree (16th cent. in British sources) < praesent- , praesēns present adj. Compare Old Occitan prezentar (13th cent.; also as presentar (1150)), Catalan presentar (14th cent.), Spanish presentar (1207), Portuguese presentar (13th cent.; now usually apresentar (13th cent.)), Italian presentare (late 12th or early 13th cent.).The following senses of the French word parallel English senses, but are first attested later: to recommend a person for a benefice (a1443 or earlier; compare sense 2a), to hold (a weapon) vertically in front of the body as a salute (1753; compare sense 6c), (of a fetus) to be positioned (in a particular way) for delivery (1755; compare sense 8b(b)), to put forward (a candidate) for examination (1857; compare sense 1d). The construction in sense 12, which is attested early in English, is apparently not paralleled in Latin or French. The sense ‘to give as a gift’ (see sense 13a) is apparently also not paralleled in French; compare present n.² In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix).