Sat

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /sæt/

Definitions

1. The past tense of the verb meaning to adopt a seated posture ; to rest with the body supported by the buttocks on a surface
2. Used as the simple past of sitting down or occupying a seat ; to position oneself in a way that the body is supported by a chair or other surface
3. Expresses the action of lowering oneself into a seated place at a previous time ; to remain in a place while seated for a duration of time

Etymology: "Sat" is the past tense and past participle of "sit," and the way it got there is a useful reminder that English past tenses are not always built the same way. Most verbs add "-ed," but "sit" belongs to an older group whose past forms change the vowel inside the word. Its past tense shares that pattern with verbs like "sing" and "sang," or "ring" and "rang." Because "sat" is simply the irregular past of "sit," it does not have a separate origin of its own. The verb "sit" comes from Old English "sittan," and the past form "sat" developed from the same stem. The vowel change that produced "sat" is the same process that separates "sing" from "sang" and "drink" from "drank."

Synonyms: seated, settled, rested

Antonyms: stood, rose