erst Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adverb at a previous time;
    erstwhile; at one time; formerly; once.
    • at one time he loved her
    • her erstwhile writing
    • she was a dancer once

WordNet

Erst adverb
Etymology
Orig. superlative of ere; AS. rest. See Ere.
Definitions
Archaic
  1. First. Chaucer.
  2. Previously; before; formerly; heretofore. Chaucer.
    Tityrus, with whose style he had erst disclaimed all ambition to match his pastoral pipe. A. W. Ward.
    Chaucer.

Webster 1913