yester

¹

[ yes-ter ]

adjective

, Archaic.

1. of or relating to yesterday.

yester-

²

1. a combining form, now unproductive, occurring in words that denote an extent of time one period prior to the present period, the nature of the period being specified by the second element of the compound:

   yesterweek.

yester-

¹

prefix

1. indicating the day before today

   yesterday

2. indicating a period of time before the present one

   yesteryear

yester

²

/ ˈjɛstə /

adjective

1. archaic.
   of or relating to yesterday Alsoyesternˈjɛstən

   yester sun

Word History and Origins

Origin of yester¹

1570–80; back formation from yesterday, etc.

Origin of yester²

Middle English; Old English geostran, giestron; cognate with Dutch gisteren, German gestern; akin to Latin hesternus of yesterday

Word History and Origins

Origin of yester¹

Old English geostran; compare German gestern, Latin hesternus of yesterday

Origin of yester²

Old English geostror; related to Old High German gestaron, Gothic gistra, Old Norse ī gǣr

Example Sentences

This is the proper tone to use when dealing with elderly muttonheads; with the Harpers of yester year.

From Project Gutenberg

“I never set eyes on the madman before yester eve,” said his astonished companion.

From Project Gutenberg

Had it been yester evening, I would have met the best blade among these men at arms as blythely as ever I danced at a maypole.

From Project Gutenberg

While I addressed thee fair and subtile words on yester even, O sweet and incomparable knight!

From Project Gutenberg

He would not have to look back and compare his last term unfavourably with the glories of yester year.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use yester-

What does yester- mean?

Yester– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “prior” or “previous.” It is very occasionally used in a variety of terms, many archaic, to describe time periods.

Yester– comes from Old English geostran, roughly meaning “yesterday.”

Examples of yester-

A common word that features the form yester– is yesterday, “on the day preceding this day.” Yesterday comes from Old English geostran dæg.

The form yester– means “previous,” and the -day part of the word literally means “day,” from Old English dæg. Yesterday literally means “previous day.”

What are some words that use the combining form yester-?

• yestereve
• yesterevening
• yesternight
• yesternoon
• yesterweek
• yesteryear

What are some other forms that yester– may be commonly confused with?

• eryth-
• erythro-
• yotta-

Break it down!

Given the meaning of the combining form yester-, what does yesteryear literally mean?