ate

Definition

simple past of eat

Etymology

Probably a remodelling of earlier eat by analogy with other strong verbs such as break:†brake, give:gave, speak:†spake; compare the same process in rare Middle English at (“ate”) besides more usual et. However, the pronunciation /ɛt/ likely continues Middle English et, from Old English ǣt, from Proto-West Germanic *āt, from Proto-Germanic *ēt, with shortening as in e.g. thread.

Example Sentences

• "I have a very good appetite, have ate some excellent melons, and they have served me up some quails, the fattest and tenderest I have ever ate."
• "As soon as all had ate, and the elder ones paid, the carriage was ordered; […]"
• "“Haven't ate all the eggs, I hope? For I be hungry as a hunter[…]"