a verb tense, as in Classical Greek, expressing action or, in the indicative mood, past action, without further limitation or implication.
adjective
2.
of or in this tense.
Origin
1575-85; < Greekaóristos unlimited, equivalent to a-a-6 + (h)oristós limited (*horid- (base of horízein to bound, limit; see horizon) + -tos adj. suffix)
British Dictionary definitions for aorist
aorist
/ˈeɪərɪst; ˈɛərɪst/
noun
1.
(grammar) 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, adjective aoristically, adverb
Word Origin
C16: from Greek aoristos not limited, from a-1 + horistos restricted, from horizein to define
Word Origin and History for aorist
n.
1580s, the simple past tense of Greek verbs, from Greek aoristos (khronos) "indefinite (tense)," from privative prefix a- "not" (see a- (3)) + horistos "limited, defined," verbal adjective from horizein "to limit, define," from horos "boundary, limit, border" (see horizon).