erstwhile









erstwhile


adjective

  1. former; of times past: erstwhile friends.

adverb

  1. Archaic. formerly; erst.

adjective

  1. former; one-timemy erstwhile companions

adverb

  1. archaic long ago; formerly
adv.

1560s, from Middle English erest “soonest, earliest,” from Old English ærest, superlative of ær (see ere) + while. As an adjective from 1903. Cognate with Old Saxon and Old High German erist, German erst.

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