erstwhile

1 of 2

adverb

erst·​while ˈərst-ˌ(h)wī(-ə)l How to pronounce erstwhile (audio)
: in the past : formerly
cultures, erstwhile unknown to each otherRobert Plank

erstwhile

2 of 2

adjective

: former, previous
erstwhile enemies

Did you know?

The adverb erstwhile has been part of English since at least the 16th century, but it is formed from two words that are much older. It comes from the Old English words aer, meaning "early," and hwil, which has the same meaning as the modern word while. (The English word ere, meaning "before," is also a descendant of aer.) These days erstwhile is more likely to be encountered as an adjective, as in "erstwhile enemies." That adjective use is a much more recent development, having joined the language about three centuries after the adverb.

Examples of erstwhile in a Sentence

Adverb there's now a store where erstwhile lay green and pleasant pastures Adjective my erstwhile friend ignored me when I ran into her at the reunion
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adverb
In South Africa’s middle class suburban areas, including Randburg, where there’s more visible policing, lockdown measures are being tightly enforced, leaving several erstwhile busy stalls and shopping areas empty. Quartz Africa, 4 Apr. 2020
Adjective
There’s also a larger cultural pageant on the cards, this one embracing the entire region and masterminded by Joe Sidek, the erstwhile curator of the popular George Town Festival in Penang. Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Nov. 2024 Carlson’s guest that night was Megyn Kelly, one of his erstwhile Fox News colleagues. Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for erstwhile 

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1569, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of erstwhile was in 1569

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Dictionary Entries Near erstwhile

Cite this Entry

“Erstwhile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erstwhile. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

erstwhile

1 of 2 adverb
erst·​while ˈərst-ˌ(h)wīl How to pronounce erstwhile (audio)
: in the past : once, formerly

erstwhile

2 of 2 adjective

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