preta

[prey-tuh]

noun

Hindu Mythology.

1. a wandering or disturbed ghost.

Word History and Origins

Origin of preta¹

First recorded in 1810–15; from Sanskrit: literally, “gone forth, gone before, dead,” equivalent to prefix pra- “forth” + participle ita- “gone”

Example Sentences

Thousands of years ago, the region’s Indigenous peoples solved this problem by creating “terra preta” from table scraps and charcoal and tucking it away in the hostile soil.

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The fact that scientists are finding intact biochar in the Amazon’s ancient terra preta suggests that it’s happening.

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Hunter and Preta were separated from him on Tuesday, as they boarded different boats during a rescue operation.

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In the Amazon, ancient people intentionally boosted soils with charcoal, creating terra preta, or “dark earth” areas that remain nutrient-rich today.

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Leo's mother Preta says on the surface the work was really appealing for a teenager.

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