- present (adj.)
- 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 mid-14c. As a grammatical tense, recorded from late 14c.
- present (v.)
- 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.)
- 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.