past-time
|past-time|
🇺🇸
/ˈpæstaɪm/
🇬🇧
/ˈpɑːstaɪm/
an activity to pass time
Etymology
'pastime' (and the hyphenated form 'past-time') originates from English, specifically the combination of 'past' + 'time', where 'past' meant 'past' and 'time' meant 'time'.
'past-time' and 'pastime' appeared in Early Modern English and Middle English as two-word or hyphenated forms like 'past time' and gradually consolidated into the single word 'pastime' in modern usage.
Initially it meant 'that which causes time to pass' or 'something that passes the time'; over time it kept this basic sense and became standardized as the word for a hobby or leisure activity.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an activity that someone does regularly for enjoyment; a hobby or leisure pursuit.
Gardening has long been a favorite past-time for many people.
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Noun 2
something done to pass the time pleasantly or to occupy oneself.
Playing cards was just a past-time while they waited for the train.
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Last updated: 2026/01/08 06:11