ago
ago Lexical Profile
ago Game Scores & Validity
• adverb
Before the present time; in the past (used after a measurement of time or a temporal modifier).
"She graduated from the university five years ago and began her research career shortly thereafter."
• adjective
Gone by; past (always placed immediately after a noun phrase specifying a period of time).
"The ancient treaty was signed several centuries ago."
Word Nuance & Usage
Syntactically, 'ago' always follows a noun phrase or temporal adverbial specifying a length of time (e.g., 'three years ago', 'long ago') and anchors the time reference to the moment of speaking, contrasting with 'before', which anchors to a past or future reference point.
• Rhymes for ago
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'ago', a shortened form of 'agon', the past participle of the verb 'agon' ('to pass away, depart'), from Old English 'āgān', composed of the prefix 'ā-' ('away') and 'gān' ('to go').