Word of the Day 06/18/25 Erst

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Erst (adverb)
erst [urst]

adverb, Archaic.
1. before the present time; formerly.

Origin: before 1000; Middle English erest, Old English ǣrest (cognate with Old High German ērist, German erst ), equivalent to ǣr ere + -est -est

Example Sentences
Frequent is heard the voice of woe, Frequent the tears of sorrow flow; Such sounds as erst, in Camlan heard, Roused to wrath old Arthur’s bard; Cambria’s warrior we deplore; Our Llewelyn is no more.
From Project Gutenberg

A stable, erst his scorn and hate, Was now become his wish’d retreat; His passion cool, his pride forgot, A FARMER’S welcome yard he sought.
From Project Gutenberg

A Would-be "Literary Gent."—The following is from the Daily Telegraph:— Literary.—A gentleman who erst wrote for recreation, is driven, through cruel misfortune, to resume his pen for a livelihood.
From Project Gutenberg

He brought them into the basilica, a long open gallery which lighted the various apartments, and in which clients and visitors erst awaited the call of the Nomenclator.
From Project Gutenberg

The former still writes; the latter, erst a gay man of fashion and then metamorphosed into a zealous Jesuit, is now devoting his missionary labors to Syria.
From Project Gutenberg

Now YOU come up with a sentence (or fic? or graphic?) that best illustrates the word.