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ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Erst

/ɝst/ · adjective

Meaning

(obsolete) First..

Definitions by Sense

  1. (obsolete) First.
  2. (obsolete) First of all, before (some other specified thing).
  3. (obsolete) Sooner (than); before.
  4. (archaic, poetic) Formerly, once, erstwhile.

Example Sentences

Consider what I erst have been and what thou seest me now:
Thenne he sente the varlet ageyne and bad hym telle Kyng Mark that I wille come as soone as I am hole / for erste I maye doo hym noo good "Then he sent the varlet again, and bade him: Tell King Mark that I will come as soon as I am whole, for erst I may do him no good. "
When lofty trees I see barren of leaves Which erst from heat did canopy the herd

Synonyms for erst

Antonyms for erst

Related Words

whilomformerlyaforetimeformerfirsterfyrstefirstefyrstfirstestprimerforeratherfurstprimaryerstwhilefirstprejacentfoistprimordialinitial

Word Forms

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does erst mean?

Erst means (obsolete) First..

What is a synonym for erst?

The closest synonym depends on the sentence and intended sense.

What is the opposite of erst?

The opposite depends on the specific sense.

How do you use erst in a sentence?

Consider what I erst have been and what thou seest me now:

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.