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View synonyms for erstwhile

erstwhile

[ urst-hwahyl, -wahyl ]

adjective

  1. former; of times past:

    erstwhile friends.

    Synonyms: previous, bygone, past

    Antonyms: present, current



adverb

  1. Archaic. formerly; erst.

erstwhile

/ ˈɜːstˌwaɪl /

adjective

  1. former; one-time

    my erstwhile companions

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


adverb

  1. archaic.
    long ago; formerly
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of erstwhile1

First recorded in 1560–70; erst + while
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Example Sentences

Tejanos, including some who had fought in Houston’s army, started having second thoughts about independence when their erstwhile Anglo allies pushed them aside in the new republic.

The old right was furious when in 2005, their erstwhile champion former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon withdrew Israel’s settlements from Gaza.

From Time

Advice and analysis from Extra CrunchWeWork lines up for a second run at the public markets — If all you have is a blank-check company, every erstwhile startup looks like a public company in waiting.

Except this time, if all you have is a blank-check company, every erstwhile startup looks like a public company in waiting.

These erstwhile enemies signed a peace agreement in 2018 that garnered Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed a Nobel Peace Prize.

From Ozy

He cites the career of an erstwhile friend the film director M. Night Shyamalan.

With scarlet lips and chemical red hair, the erstwhile agent is still making headlines in the West.

For the moment, most offenders, and their erstwhile protectors, are being more careful.

But she quickly fell out with her erstwhile ally, who dismissed her government after a few months.

But, on Monday, it was reported that the erstwhile Democrat was returning to his political roots.

At Stettin, during the armistice, he entered the fortress and tried to seduce the governor, an ex-Jacobin and erstwhile friend.

They frantically waved their hats, ceased firing, and greeted their erstwhile enemies as comrades.

The Baron had naturally expected to find his mother, his brother and his erstwhile playmates gathered there as before.

She had been very angry with her erstwhile lover a minute ago.

It was Roberts who secured a position behind one of these erstwhile dispensers of liquid soothing-syrup and rapped for order.

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erstERT