erstwhile
Look at other dictionaries:
Erstwhile — is a word referring to In the past; at a former time; formerly. It may also refer to: *Erstwhile Records … Wikipedia
erstwhile — is a word that dates from Old English, and is still occasionally found, mainly as an adjective meaning ‘of old, former’ and typically with reference to the recent past: • While he may be less popular than he was, he is still held in more esteem… … Modern English usage
erstwhile — [ʉrst′hwīl΄] adv. Archaic some time ago; formerly adj. of an earlier time; former [my erstwhile friend] … English World dictionary
Erstwhile — Erst while ( hw[imac]l ), adv. Till then or now; heretofore; formerly. [Archaic] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
erstwhile — index former, late (defunct), previous Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
erstwhile — (adv.) 1560s, from M.E. erest soonest, earliest, from O.E. ærest, superl. of ær (see ERE (Cf. ere)) + WHILE (Cf. while). As an adj., from 1903. Cognate with O.S., O.H.G. erist, Ger. erst … Etymology dictionary
erstwhile — [adj] former bygone, ex, late, old, once, one time, past, preceding, previous, quondam, sometime; concept 820 … New thesaurus
erstwhile — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ former. ► ADVERB archaic ▪ formerly … English terms dictionary
erstwhile — [[t]ɜ͟ː(r)st(h)waɪl[/t]] ADJ: ADJ n You use erstwhile to describe someone that used to be the type of person indicated, but no longer is. [FORMAL] Erstwhile workers may have become managers... He fled to America with Phyllis Burton, an erstwhile… … English dictionary
erstwhile — I. adverb Date: 1569 in the past ; formerly < cultures, erstwhile unknown to each other Robert Plank > II. adjective Date: 1903 former, previous < erstwhile enemies > … New Collegiate Dictionary
erstwhile — erst|while [ˈə:stwaıl US ˈə:rst ] adj [only before noun] formal [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: erst formerly (11 19 centuries) (from Old English Arest earliest ) + while] former or in the past ▪ She found herself ostracized by erstwhile friends. ▪ his … Dictionary of contemporary English
