Robert Plank
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The adverb erstwhile has been part of English since at least the 16th century, but it is formed from two words that are much older. It comes from the Old English words aer, meaning "early," and hwil, which has the same meaning as the modern word while. (The English word ere, meaning "before," is also a descendant of aer.) These days erstwhile is more likely to be encountered as an adjective, as in "erstwhile enemies." That adjective use is a much more recent development, having joined the language about three centuries after the adverb.
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Examples of erstwhile in a Sentence
Quartz Africa, 4 Apr. 2020
Michael Greshko, New York Times, 9 May 2024
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“Erstwhile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erstwhile. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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erstwhile
1 of 2 adverb
erstwhile
2 of 2 adjective
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