erst — ozdic

Definitions

adj

1

First.

adv

1

First of all, before (some other specified thing).

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

2

Sooner (than); before.

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. "

3

Formerly, once, erstwhile.

When lofty trees I see barren of leaves Which erst from heat did canopy the herd

Collocations

3

VERB + ERST

consider, leaves, remain, wounds

ERST + NOUN

native

PREP.

around, from

Thesaurus

Synonyms

adverb — at a previous time

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

4

01

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

Wiktionary

02

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 t

Wiktionary

03

When lofty trees I see barren of leaves Which erst from heat did canopy the herd

Wiktionary

04

Foul is his beard, his hair is stiff with gore, / and fresh the wounds, those many wounds, remain, / which erst around his native walls he bore.

Tatoeba · #6816649

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, erst is marked as obsolete, archaic, poetic. Watch for register when choosing this word.