erstwhile
9
8.4
- adjective
- /ˈɜrstˌwaɪl/
- Formal
:
anterior
- The erstwhile mayor was invited to speak at the city council meeting.
- erstwhile allies
- erstwhile Soviet
- erstwhile disciple
This brings to an end his erstwhile and not particularly sensible existence, which has no future whatsoever.
- This brings to an end his erstwhile and not particularly sensible existence, which has no future whatsoever.
Examples
-
I will set up a new agency patterned after the erstwhile Office of Strategic Services.
Academic text (2007) -
Red-haired at present, she was just ten years younger than her erstwhile husband.
Fiction book (1998) -
- Look, it's our erstwhile boss, Danny.
-
"I'll get right on it," said his erstwhile secretary, "and I'll pray."
Fiction book (1999) -
Asian countries are left without new ideas or direction from their erstwhile economic mentor.
Academic text (1998) -
Yet, at the same time, Oliver did not forget his duty toward his erstwhile sweetheart.
Fiction book (1995) -
But he appears increasingly out of step with his erstwhile constituents.
Academic text (2008) -
Luckily, links between these new groups and their erstwhile sponsor are limited mostly to rhetoric.
Academic text (2008) -
When this happened, Britain did not lift a finger to help its erstwhile Armenian allies, who once again suffered the cruel consequences.
-
The Italians, meanwhile, were eager to consolidate renewed influence in their erstwhile colony.
Academic text (2017)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A thing that belonged to or was used before the one you have now
∞
1.0
Existing earlier or having held a role before
55
4.5
A person or thing that used to be something but is not now
16
8.0
From an earlier time that is now past
12
5.6
Formerly having a particular job or status
3
5.5
Having had a job or role in the past, not now
Once in a role or position but not now
From earlier times and no longer used to talk about people or things
A person, thing, or role from an earlier time
Antonyms
How Recent
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Erstwhile comes from two parts: erst meaning 'before' and the familiar word while meaning 'time'. So, an erstwhile colleague is a 'before-time' colleague, in other words a 'former' colleague.