ago

UK: əˈɡəʊ | US: əˈɡoʊ

Definition

  1. adj. gone by; in the past

  2. adv. in the past; before now

Structure
a <away, from>go <move, pass>
Etymology

The word "ago" originates from Old English āgān, combining ā- (a prefix meaning "away" or "on") and gān ("to go"). It originally meant "to pass away" or "to depart," later evolving into its modern sense of "in the past." The morpheme a- is a reduced form of Old English ā-, while go retains its core meaning of movement or passage. Over time, "ago" shifted from a verb phrase to an adverb/adjective describing elapsed time.

Examples

  1. She left the company three years ago.

  2. The event happened long ago.

  3. I met him a week ago.

  4. That era seems so far ago now.

  5. The letter was written two days ago.