plural of historic present

(grammar) A nonfinite verb form that indicates an ongoing action or state and which can function as an adjective.

(grammar) A tense that describes an ongoing action in the present. In English it is formed by use of a form of be with a present participle.

(grammar) The present tense; a verb or sentence in this tense.

(grammar) A grammatical tense whose principal function is to locate a situation or event in the present time.

(grammar) A perfect tense that expresses action in the past (usually completed) with consequences in the present time.

In existence now; current or contemporary.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see Christmas, present.

A contemporary Christmas.

In Latin, the three simple tenses: present, future, and imperfect, as contrasted with the perfect system, the three perfect tenses: perfect, future perfect, and pluperfect. Verbs in the present system tend to indicate an action that has not completed.