erewhile
Some time ago; beforehand; formerly.
Adverb
- Some time ago; beforehand; formerly.
- I am as fair now as I was erewhile. - c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True...
- She runs you through, nor asks the word. O thou, that dear and happy Isle, The garden of the world erewhile, Thou Paradise of the four seas Which Heaven planted us to please, - 1600s, Andrew Marvell A Garden
- The dame sans merci's broken strain, Whom I erewhile, perchance, have known, When Orleans filled the Bourbon throne, A siren singing by the Seine. - 1800s, Oliver Wendell Holmes, The Flâneur
Origin
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- Proto-Indo-European *-eri Proto-Indo-European *h₂éyeri Proto-Germanic *airi Proto-Germanic *airiz Old English ǣr Middle English er English ere English while English erewhile From ere + while.