a tense of the verb in classical Greek and in certain other inflected languages, indicating past action without reference to whether the action involved was momentary or continuous
Compare perfect (sense 8), imperfect (sense 4)
Derived forms
aoristic (ˌaoˈristic)
adjective
aoristically (ˌaoˈristically)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Greek aoristos not limited, from a-1 + horistos restricted, from horizein to define
aorist in American English
(ˈeɪərɪst; ˈɛrɪst)
noun
1.
a past tense of Greek verbs, denoting an action without indicating whether completed, continued, or repeated
adjective
2.
designating or in this tense
Derived forms
aoristic (ˈaoˈristic)
adjective
Word origin
Gr aoristos, indefinite < a-, not + horistos, definable < horizein, to define < horos, a limit: see horizon