Definition of "present" []

• A moment or period in time perceptible as intermediate between past and future; now. (noun)
• Grammar The present tense. (noun)
• Grammar A verb form in the present tense. (noun)
• Law The document or instrument in question: Be it known by these presents. (noun)
• Existing or happening now; current: the present leader; present trends. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "[Footnote: If the present ends in _e_, the _e_ is dropped when _ed_ is added; as, lov_e_, lov_ed_; believ_e_, believ_ed_.] +An _Irregular Verb_ is one that does not form its past tense and past participle by adding _ed_ to the present+."
• "+ -- _He promised me a present = A present was promised me_ (regular) = _I was promised a present_ (idiomatic)."
• "The pronoun _I_ should always be capitalized, and should, when used as part of a compound subject, be placed second; as, _James and I were present, not I and James were present_."