'preterite' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'praeteritus', where 'praeter-' meant 'past' or 'beyond' and 'ire' meant 'to go'.

'preterite' changed from Late Latin 'praeteritus' (and Medieval/Old French influence) into Middle English 'preterit(e)', and eventually became the modern English word 'preterite'.

Initially, it meant 'gone by' or 'past', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the past tense (especially the simple past)'.