noun.
The present time or moment; this very time.
Present.
At the present point of time; at the present time; at this juncture.
In these present times; nowadays.
But lately; a little while ago.
At or by that past time (in vivid narration); at this (or that) particular point in the course of events; thereupon; then.
Things being so; as the case stands; after what has been said or done.
Used as an emphatic expletive in cases of command, entreaty, remonstrance, and the like: as, come, now, stop that!
under erst.
A continuative, usually introducing an inference from or an explanation of what precedes.
Equivalent to now that, with omission of that.