quondam

[ kwon-duhm, -dam ]

adjective

1. former; one-time:

   his quondam partner.

quondam

/ ˈkwɒndæm /

adjective

1. prenominal of an earlier time; former

   her quondam lover

Word History and Origins

Origin of quondam¹

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1530–50

Word History and Origins

Origin of quondam¹

C16: from Latin adv: formerly

Example Sentences

The animal itself was as peaceful and well-behaved as that father of all picture-wolves—Red Riding Hood’s quondam friend, whilst moving her confidence in masquerade.

From Literature

He put his laser beam away, bent, and, with curiosity, examined the body of his quondam superior.

From Literature

We arrived at our destination; where our hostess, seeing the state of my quondam master, refused us the room.

From Literature

You get the porthole windows of the quondam Seamen’s Union building and a tiny storefront that grandly introduces itself as the National School of Dancing.

From The New Yorker

Hitchens was, not for the first time, drawing on the conceptual repertoire of his quondam Trotskyism to justify his stance.

From The Guardian