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erstwhile

 - 3 dictionary results

erst⋅while

[urst-hwahyl, -wahyl]
–adjective
1. former; of times past: erstwhile friends.
–adverb
2. Archaic. formerly; erst.

Origin:
1560–70; erst + while


1. past, bygone, previous.


1. current, present.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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erst·while   (ûrst'hwīl', -wīl')   
adv.  In the past; at a former time; formerly.
adj.  Former: our erstwhile companions.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

erstwhile 
1569, from M.E. erest "soonest, earliest" (see ere) + while (q.v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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