Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: erst 'formerly' (11-19 centuries) (from Old English ærest 'earliest') + while

erstwhile

 adjective
     
erst‧while [only before noun] formal
former or in the past:
She found herself ostracized by erstwhile friends.
his erstwhile allies
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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