erst

Adverb

WordNet 3.0

at a previous time“at one time he loved her”“her erstwhile writing”“she was a dancer once";”Synonyms: once formerly at one time erstwhile

Erst \Erst\ ([~e]rst), adv. [Orig. superlative of ere; AS. [=ae]rest. See Ere.] [Archaic]

1.First. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

2.Previously; before; formerly; heretofore. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Tityrus, with whose style he had erst disclaimed all ambition to match his pastoral pipe.— A. W. Ward.[1913 Webster]

At erst, at first; at the beginning.

Now at erst, at this present time. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]