present (adj.) Look up present at Dictionary.com
c.1300, "existing at the time," from O.Fr. present (11c.), from L. pręsentem (nom. pręsens) "present, immediate, prompt," from prp. of pręesse "be before (someone or something), be at hand," from prę- "before" + esse "to be." Meaning "being there" is from 1340. As a grammatical tense, recorded from 1388. Presently is c.1380 as "immediately," but by 1566 it had relaxed into "sooner or later." Present-day "contemporary" is attested from 1887.
present (v.) Look up present at Dictionary.com
late 13c., "to bring into the presence of," from O.Fr. presenter, from L. pręsentare "to place before, show, exhibit," from pręsens (see present (adj.)). Meaning "to give as a gift" first recorded mid-13c. Presentable "suitable in appearance" is first attested 1800.
present (n.) Look up present at Dictionary.com
early 13c., "thing offered, gift," from O.Fr. present, in phrases en present "(to offer) in the presence of," mettre en present "place before, give," from L.L. inpraesent "face to face," from L. in re pręsenti "in the situation in question," from pręsens "being there" (see present (adj.)), on the notion of "bringing something into someone's presence." Meaning "this point in time" (opposed to past and future) is attested from c.1500.